The Merchant food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Liverpool
The Merchant 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 12 July 2023, more than 3 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: 40 - 42 Slater Street, Liverpool, L1 4BX
How it compares in Liverpool
In Liverpool, 67% of rated places manage a 5, so The Merchant sits behind roughly 2,803 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,273 | 67% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 530 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 331 | 10% | ← The Merchant | |
| 2 out of 5 | 123 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 88 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 38 | 1% |
A further 1,143 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 Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 The Merchant 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 The Merchant, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar 54 Pub/bar/nightclub | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2019 |
| Ball Park Pub/bar/nightclub | 140 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 March 2022 |
| Bakchich Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 190 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 January 2021 |
| Aquapod Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| A Tavola Italian Deli Pub/bar/nightclub | 220 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2019 |
| American Pizza Slice Takeaway/sandwich shop | 304 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2019 |
| Albert’s Schloss Pub/bar/nightclub | 306 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 August 2023 |
| Argyles Coffee and Wine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 318 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2019 |
Questions about The Merchant
What is The Merchant's food hygiene rating?
The Merchant has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Liverpool Council on 12 July 2023.
Is The Merchant 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 The Merchant last inspected?
The Merchant was last inspected on 12 July 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Liverpool Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Merchant?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Merchant compare to other places in Liverpool?
67% of the 3,383 rated food businesses in Liverpool hold the top rating of 5, while The Merchant holds a 3. 331 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Liverpool Council inspects The Merchant 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 The Merchant and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Liverpool inspects and rates 4,526 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Liverpool →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.liverpool.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 →