The Poacher food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bolton
The Poacher 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 18 February 2025, 16 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: Poacher, 1-3 Scot Lane, Blackrod, BL6 5SG
How it compares in Bolton
That puts The Poacher among the 1,220 places in Bolton holding top marks, 55% 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 | 1,220 | 55% | ← The Poacher | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 476 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 315 | 14% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 76 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 103 | 5% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 10 | <1% |
A further 186 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 Very 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 Poacher 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 Poacher, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackrod County Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Aspull Royal British Legion Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2018 |
| Cumberland School Station Road School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
| Aspull Pre School Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2026 |
| Blackrod Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 June 2025 |
| Finger Post Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2025 |
| Galloways Retailers - other | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2026 |
Questions about The Poacher
What is The Poacher's food hygiene rating?
The Poacher has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bolton Council on 18 February 2025.
Is The Poacher 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 Poacher last inspected?
The Poacher was last inspected on 18 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bolton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Poacher?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Poacher compare to other places in Bolton?
55% of the 2,200 rated food businesses in Bolton hold the top rating of 5, and The Poacher is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bolton Council inspects The Poacher 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 Poacher 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 Poacher is one of 32 rated food businesses in Blackrod. See every hygiene rating in Blackrod →
Bolton inspects and rates 2,386 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bolton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bolton.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 →