Oven food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Darlington
Oven holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 May 2025, 14 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 28 - 30 Duke Street, Darlington, DL3 7AQ
How it compares in Darlington
That puts Oven among the 755 places in Darlington holding top marks, 90% 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 | 755 | 90% | ← Oven | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 79 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 Oven 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 Oven, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Sol Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 4 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Angels Cut Pub/bar/nightclub | 35 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2025 |
| Andy's Candy Bar Retailers - other | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Babul's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 189 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
| Buzz Bingo Pub/bar/nightclub | 190 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| Bombay Gate Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 204 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2024 |
| Best Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 209 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| Best Afro Foods Other catering premises | 216 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2024 |
Questions about Oven
What is Oven's food hygiene rating?
Oven has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 7 May 2025.
Is Oven 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Oven last inspected?
Oven was last inspected on 7 May 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Darlington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Oven?
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 Oven compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and Oven is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Oven 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 Oven and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Darlington inspects and rates 915 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Darlington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.darlington.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 →