Alchemy food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Halton
Alchemy holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 1 February 2024, more than 2 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: 2 High Street, Runcorn, Halton, WA7 1AU
How it compares in Halton
In Halton, 75% of rated places manage a 5, so Alchemy sits behind roughly 726 nearby businesses. 8% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 620 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 106 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 66 | 8% | ← Alchemy | |
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | 1% |
A further 81 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Alchemy 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 Alchemy, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick Breakfast Club Other catering premises | 121 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2023 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 143 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2024 |
| Booze Busters Retailers - other | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2018 |
| Chinese Open Kitchen Takeaway/sandwich shop | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| All Saints Preschool Runcorn Caring Premises | 268 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Drive Thru Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 287 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2017 |
| Asda Express Runcorn PFS Retailers - other | 347 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2025 |
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 347 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 April 2025 |
Questions about Alchemy
What is Alchemy's food hygiene rating?
Alchemy has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Halton Council on 1 February 2024.
Is Alchemy safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Alchemy last inspected?
Alchemy was last inspected on 1 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Halton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Alchemy?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Alchemy compare to other places in Halton?
75% of the 825 rated food businesses in Halton hold the top rating of 5, while Alchemy holds a 3. 66 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Halton Council inspects Alchemy 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 Alchemy and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Alchemy is one of 347 rated food businesses in Runcorn. See every hygiene rating in Runcorn →
Halton inspects and rates 906 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Halton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.halton.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 →