The Lounge food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Northumberland
The Lounge holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 17 February 2026, 4 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: 5-7 Simpson Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 1AX
How it compares in Northumberland
In Northumberland, 90% of rated places manage a 5, so The Lounge sits behind roughly 2,779 nearby businesses. 7% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,779 | 90% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 7% | ← The Lounge | |
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 397 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- 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 The Lounge 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 Lounge, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blyth Food Bank Distributors/Transporters | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2023 |
| Bar 38 Pub/bar/nightclub | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2024 |
| Blyth United Services Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Boyes Retailers - other | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2024 |
| Fabio's Pizza & Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 163 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 July 2024 |
| Doppio's Coffee House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 198 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2026 |
| Burger 8 Blyth Takeaway/sandwich shop | 217 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2026 |
Questions about The Lounge
What is The Lounge's food hygiene rating?
The Lounge has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Northumberland Council on 17 February 2026.
Is The Lounge safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Lounge last inspected?
The Lounge was last inspected on 17 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Northumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lounge?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", 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 The Lounge compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,077 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, while The Lounge holds a 4. 214 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Lounge 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 Lounge and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Lounge is one of 284 rated food businesses in Blyth. See every hygiene rating in Blyth →
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,474 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Northumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northumberland.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 →