Black Bull food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · South Ribble
Black Bull 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 2 October 2024, 21 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 83 Pope Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 9BA
How it compares in South Ribble
That puts Black Bull among the 689 places in South Ribble holding top marks, 95% 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 | 689 | 95% | ← Black Bull | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 97 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 Black Bull 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 Black Bull, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bargain Booze Retailers - other | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2020 |
| Booths Supermarkets Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2025 |
| Asda Express Middleforth PFS Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2024 |
| Asda Express PFS Middleforth Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| All Hallows Roman Catholic High School School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 April 2026 |
| BioAim Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| 1260 Craft & Crust Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2024 |
| Ashbridge School & Nursery Ltd School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
Questions about Black Bull
What is Black Bull's food hygiene rating?
Black Bull has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Ribble Council on 2 October 2024.
Is Black Bull 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 Black Bull last inspected?
Black Bull was last inspected on 2 October 2024, 21 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Ribble Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Black Bull?
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 Black Bull compare to other places in South Ribble?
95% of the 728 rated food businesses in South Ribble hold the top rating of 5, and Black Bull is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Ribble Council inspects Black Bull 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 Black Bull 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
Black Bull is one of 88 rated food businesses in Penwortham. See every hygiene rating in Penwortham →
South Ribble inspects and rates 825 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Ribble →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southribble.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 →