It's far from a secret that residents of the North East enjoy a cheeky takeaway from time to time, and we're not exactly strapped for choice when it comes down to it.
Numerous streets across Newcastle alone have become hotbeds for fast food and unique dishes galore, like the Chillingham and Westgate Roads - while South Shields has its famous Ocean Road - jam packed with curryhouses galore.
And with so much choice, locals and visitors alike can afford to be a little picky as to where they decide to chow down. One of the main factors which many consider a deal breaker is an establishment's food hygiene score.
Read more: Every food hygiene rating for restaurants and takeaways across Newcastle's Quayside
Each business is given a rating after an inspection by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) with requirements, if necessary, on how to improve hygiene. In the ratings, five is top of the scale, where standards are very good and zero is at the bottom, where urgent improvement is necessary.
And while there are a number of local businesses in ship shape with regards to organisation, cleanliness and storage, others have lacked in certain areas - with the FSA marking them down accordingly. Here, Chronicle Live lists all of the North East establishments with zero star food hygiene ratings according to the Food Standards Agency.
All ratings were correct at the time of publication.
Zero -
Newcastle
MAM African Foods
126 West Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9QA
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: March 22, 2023
Mannaza Restaurant
5 Taylors Court, Monk Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5XD
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: March 21, 2023
Supermarket Crisadi
334 Shields Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE6 2UU
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: November 9, 2022
Tarboosh
37 Groat Market, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1UQ
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: March 3, 2023
The Small Canteen
17 Starbeck Avenue, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 1RH
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: March 16, 2023
Gateshead
2Brothers Supermarket
Sunderland Road, Gateshead, NE8 3EX
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: February 7, 2023
Buffet King @ Metro
57 Garden Walk, Metrocentre, Gateshead, NE11 9YL
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: January 23, 2023
Gateshead Halal Store
115 Coatsworth Road, Bensham, Gateshead, NE8 1SQ
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: November 16, 2022
Sunderland
Yummy Kitchen
49 Villette Road, Sunderland, SR2 8RD
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: March 23, 2023
North Tyneside
Farnsworth Fruit and Veg
19 Segedunum Way, Wallsend, Tyne And Wear, NE28 8JP
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: March 15, 2023
Northumberland
The Schooner Hotel
8 Northumberland Street, Alnmouth, Northumberland, NE66 2RS
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: September 16, 2022
One Stop - Park Road
40 Park Road, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3DH
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: February 14, 2023
The Amble Butcher
31 Queen Street. Amble. Northumberland. NE65 0BX
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: January 26, 2023
The Golden Lion - Corbridge
Hill Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5AE
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: February 16, 2023
County Durham
Santino's
7 Front Street, Sacriston, Durham, DH7 6LD
Hygiene rating: 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary)
Date of last inspection: March 7, 2023
Read next:
- The worst takeaways across Newcastle upon Tyne by food hygiene rating
- Food hygiene ratings across the Metrocentre from five stars to two
- Three new Metrocentre restaurants opening in December 2022
- Metrocentre December and Christmas opening hours 2022
- Is this the Metrocentre's healthiest restaurant? New Korean eatery Grounded Kitchen to open this Christmas promising 'clean eating'