ESSO food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Gateshead
ESSO holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 November 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Whickham Service Station, Front Street, Whickham, NE16 4EL
How it compares in Gateshead
That puts ESSO among the 1,170 places in Gateshead holding top marks, 81% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,170 | 81% | ← ESSO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 197 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 58 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 202 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At ESSO none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to ESSO, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Horse Pub/bar/nightclub | 128 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2025 |
| Adams Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2025 |
| Bakers and Baristas Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2025 |
| B&M Retail Limited Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2024 |
| 1771 Swalwell Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2025 |
| Acropolis One Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| Ask Italian Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2024 |
| Beckleberrys Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
Questions about ESSO
What is ESSO's food hygiene rating?
ESSO has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Gateshead Council on 13 November 2024.
Is ESSO safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was ESSO last inspected?
ESSO was last inspected on 13 November 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Gateshead Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at ESSO?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does ESSO compare to other places in Gateshead?
81% of the 1,436 rated food businesses in Gateshead hold the top rating of 5, and ESSO is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Gateshead Council inspects ESSO and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch ESSO and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
ESSO is one of 137 rated food businesses in Whickham. See every hygiene rating in Whickham →
Gateshead inspects and rates 1,638 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Gateshead →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.gateshead.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →