The Black Bear food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Shropshire
The Black Bear holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 30 June 2025, 12 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: The Black Bear High Street, Whitchurch, SY13 1AZ
How it compares in Shropshire
That puts The Black Bear among the 2,512 places in Shropshire holding top marks, 88% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,512 | 88% | ← The Black Bear | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 223 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 86 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 249 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 Good
- 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 The Black Bear 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 Black Bear, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitchurch Eat House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 26 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2024 |
| Etzio Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2025 |
| Hundred King Takeaway/sandwich shop | 31 yards away | 4 - Good | 24 April 2025 |
| Fog Town Retailers - other | 45 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 16 October 2025 |
| Docket No.33 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Refill Your Boots Retailers - other | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2026 |
| Ozan Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2024 |
| Purcell Butchers Retailers - other | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
Questions about The Black Bear
What is The Black Bear's food hygiene rating?
The Black Bear has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Shropshire Council on 30 June 2025.
Is The Black Bear safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Black Bear last inspected?
The Black Bear was last inspected on 30 June 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Shropshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Black Bear?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Black Bear compare to other places in Shropshire?
88% of the 2,862 rated food businesses in Shropshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Black Bear is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Shropshire Council inspects The Black Bear 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 Black Bear and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Black Bear is one of 116 rated food businesses in Whitchurch. See every hygiene rating in Whitchurch →
Shropshire inspects and rates 3,111 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Shropshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/foodhygienescheme
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 →