A new food standards analysis has revealed the East Midlands regions, which have the highest percentage of low food hygiene scores in 2026.
The figures, compiled by Cairn Catering Engineers, are based on Food Standards Agency data and have been revealed on Monday, November 9.
We have used the data to create a Derbyshire Food Hygiene ranking, based on the percentage of food venues which have received a food hygiene rating of two or below in each council area in the county.
Food venues across the country are rated by the Food Standards Agency on the standard of food hygiene on the date of the inspection by the local authority.
Each business is given a rating from zero to five – with five meaning hygiene standards are ‘very good’ and zero that ‘urgent improvement is required’.
A four-star rating means hygiene standards are good, while three stars suggest that hygiene is ‘generally satisfactory’.
A two-out-of-five score means that ‘some improvement is necessary’ and one star that ‘major improvement is necessary’.
Commenting on the newly released figures, Richard Barker, co-founder of Cairn Catering Engineers, said: "A low rating isn't always about a dirty kitchen. Fridges that won't hold their temperature, broken probes and missing temperature records all cost marks, and most of it is quick to put right before the inspector calls."
5. Amber Valley (6)
In Amber Valley 11 out of 954 food venues received a score of two or less, with the region scoring 1.1% . This is similar to 1.2% last year. average The average score was 4.71, none of the businesses had a score of zero. This is the fourth best score in Derbyshire.
6. South Derbyshire (5)
In South Derbyshire out of 762 food hygiene ratings, 13 were rated 2 or below giving the region a rating of 1.7%, up from 0.4% last year. The average score was 4.79, none of the businesses had a rating of zero. | Google
7. Bolsover (4)
A higher share of empty shops (9%) compared to the national average (5%), but in several categories of business more high street operators were recorded than the national average. Between 2019 and 2025, the proportion of retailers fell from 61% to 52%, while accommodation, food and drink operators rose from 39% to 48% of all businesses. There was growth in the number of barbershops and hairdressers (up 80% since 2019), pubs and bars (25%), restaurants (200%), tattoo and piercing studios (50%), and department stores (50%). On the decline were cash machines (down 33%) and pharmacies (33%).
8. Chesterfield (3)
In Chesterfield 16 out of 879 businesses were rated two or below, giving the town a rating of 1.8%. This is down from 2.2% last year. This is the third worst score in Derbyshire. The average food hygiene score was 4.81 and none of the venues had a rating of zero. This was the 17th worst score in the East Midlands region.