Birtley Branch Library food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Gateshead
Birtley Branch Library holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 December 2023, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Birtley Branch Library, Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 1LE
How it compares in Gateshead
That puts Birtley Branch Library among the 1,172 places in Gateshead holding top marks, 81% 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 | 1,172 | 81% | ← Birtley Branch Library | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 198 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 59 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 199 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 Very 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 Birtley Branch Library 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 Birtley Branch Library, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Chef Takeaway/sandwich shop | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| Casa Rosa Takeaway/sandwich shop | 181 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| Benelli's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2025 |
| Continental Delicatessen Retailers - other | 218 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Birtley Buffs Pub/bar/nightclub | 227 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2025 |
| Bright Star Nursery School/college/university | 264 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 November 2025 |
| Afro Asian Market Retailers - other | 308 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2025 |
| Birtley Masonic Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 310 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2024 |
Questions about Birtley Branch Library
What is Birtley Branch Library's food hygiene rating?
Birtley Branch Library has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Gateshead Council on 13 December 2023.
Is Birtley Branch Library 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Birtley Branch Library last inspected?
Birtley Branch Library was last inspected on 13 December 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Gateshead Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Birtley Branch Library?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Birtley Branch Library compare to other places in Gateshead?
81% of the 1,440 rated food businesses in Gateshead hold the top rating of 5, and Birtley Branch Library is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Gateshead Council inspects Birtley Branch Library 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 Birtley Branch Library 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
Gateshead inspects and rates 1,639 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Gateshead →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.gateshead.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 →