Almost 20 venues across Blackburn and Darwen have been handed new food hygiene ratings in the past fortnight, with almost all achieving the top score.

A total of 18 businesses, including restaurants, takeaways and pubs, were visited by inspectors, and have been handed their new ratings.

The Food Standards Agency ratings examine the hygienic food handling, cleanliness and conditions of facilities, and food safety management at each business to provide score of between zero and five.

Food handling covers the preparation, cooking, cooling and storage of food, while facilities inspects a business’ layout, ventilation, pest control and hand washing facilities.

Lancashire Telegraph: Maria's Deli was rated five out of fiveMaria's Deli was rated five out of five (Image: Google)

Food safety management checks what systems are in place to ensure food is safe to eat, staff training, and that the company maintains its records to ensure standards are maintained in future.

Of the 18 establishments visited in Blackburn and Darwen, all bar two received the top rating of five, while the others scored a four and three.

Among those receiving a five rating were the recently opened dessert parlour Creams Café at Prestonway Service Station, and restaurant Tribez Steak and Grill next to the Vue cinema in Blackburn.

The restaurant at the historic Pleasington Golf Club also received top marks for its top quality dishes served in the newly refurbished restaurant overlooking the course, ranked among Lancashire’s best.

Lancashire Telegraph: It was top marks for Bab'sIt was top marks for Bab's (Image: Google)

The following restaurants or cafes all scored five out of five, with their hygiene rated very good:

  • Creams Cafe, Preston New Road, Blackburn
  • Bubbles And Boba, King William Street, Blackburn
  • Mrs Meal Prep, Spring Bank Close, Blackburn
  • Maria's Deli Ltd, Duckworth Street, Darwen
  • Subway, Preston Old Road, Blackburn
  • Tribez Steak and Grill, Peel Retail And Leisure Park, Blackburn
  • Pleasington Golf Club, Pleasington Lane, Pleasington
  • Bab's Breakfast Diner, Vernon Street, Blackburn
  • The Olive Kitchen at Kingsway, Greenhurst Close, Blackburn.

Takeaway which received top marks of five were:

  • Frangos Fried Ltd in Whalley New Road, Blackburn
  • Pepes Piri Piri in Victoria Street, Blackburn
  • Zakzaki Kebab House in Watford Street, Blackburn
  • DNKD in Darwen Street, Blackburn
  • Akash Indian Takeaway in Duckworth Street, Darwen
  • Flamingo's in Bridge Street, Darwen.

Lancashire Telegraph: Flamingo's received a five ratingFlamingo's received a five rating (Image: Google)

The Bee’s Knees in Bridge Street, Darwen, is the only pub or bar to get a new rating in the latest visits by inspectors, with the popular venue receiving a five out of five score.

Receiving a four rating, indicating good food hygiene standards was the Sweet Palace restaurant in New Bank Road, Blackburn, while being handed the three score, indicating standards are generally satisfactory, was Satti’s Peri Peri takeaway in Railway Road, Darwen.

All venues, bar Pleasington Golf Club, Sweet Palace, and Satti’s were visited by inspectors in January, with the others inspected in September, October and December, respectively.

This means of the 1,265 venues in Blackburn with Darwen, 679 have a five rating.

Details of every venue in Blackburn with Darwen’s food hygiene scores can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.