Darwen Express Newsagent food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Blackburn
Darwen Express Newsagent 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 27 April 2022, more than 4 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 5 Market Street, Darwen, BB3 1AZ
How it compares in Blackburn
That puts Darwen Express Newsagent among the 738 places in Blackburn holding top marks, 69% 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 | 738 | 69% | ← Darwen Express Newsagent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 136 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 84 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 5% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 65 | 6% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 233 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 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 Darwen Express Newsagent 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 Darwen Express Newsagent, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bird Inth' Hand Pub/bar/nightclub | 81 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Golden Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2025 |
| Candy Rush Retailers - other | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 August 2022 |
| Coopers Cooked Meats Retailers - other | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2024 |
| Gilly's Salad and Sandwich Bar Retailers - other | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
| Leemings Butchers Retailers - other | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2025 |
| Greggs Bakers Retailers - other | 115 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 December 2025 |
| Deli Carlo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
Questions about Darwen Express Newsagent
What is Darwen Express Newsagent's food hygiene rating?
Darwen Express Newsagent has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Blackburn Council on 27 April 2022.
Is Darwen Express Newsagent 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 Darwen Express Newsagent last inspected?
Darwen Express Newsagent was last inspected on 27 April 2022, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Blackburn Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Darwen Express Newsagent?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Darwen Express Newsagent compare to other places in Blackburn?
69% of the 1,075 rated food businesses in Blackburn hold the top rating of 5, and Darwen Express Newsagent is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Blackburn Council inspects Darwen Express Newsagent 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 Darwen Express Newsagent 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
Darwen Express Newsagent is one of 1,178 rated food businesses in Blackburn With Darwen. See every hygiene rating in Blackburn With Darwen →
Blackburn inspects and rates 1,308 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Blackburn →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.blackburn.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 →