Old Black Bull food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Preston
Old Black Bull holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub 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 20 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 Old Black Bull, 35-36 Friargate, Preston, PR1 2AT
How it compares in Preston
In Preston, 79% of rated places manage a 5, so Old Black Bull sits behind roughly 1,176 nearby businesses. 13% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,176 | 79% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 198 | 13% | ← Old Black Bull | |
| 3 out of 5 | 103 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 129 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 Good
- 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 Old 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 Old Black Bull, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abys Biryani Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Ai Cha Bubble Tea Dessert Cafe Takeaway/sandwich shop | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2023 |
| 16th Street Takeaway/sandwich shop | 115 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
| Abaseen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 220 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Admiral Other catering premises | 259 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2025 |
| Adelphi Pub/bar/nightclub | 290 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2024 |
| Arc Cinema Limited Other catering premises | 306 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2026 |
| Argento Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 306 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2025 |
Questions about Old Black Bull
What is Old Black Bull's food hygiene rating?
Old Black Bull has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Preston Council on 20 June 2025.
Is Old Black Bull 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 pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Old Black Bull last inspected?
Old Black Bull was last inspected on 20 June 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Preston Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Old Black Bull?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Old Black Bull compare to other places in Preston?
79% of the 1,498 rated food businesses in Preston hold the top rating of 5, while Old Black Bull holds a 4. 198 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Preston Council inspects Old 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 Old 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
Preston inspects and rates 1,627 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Preston →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.preston.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 →