Hard as Rock food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Gateshead
Hard as Rock 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 24 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: Wilsons Auctions Ltd, Shadon Way, Portobello, DH3 2SW
How it compares in Gateshead
That puts Hard as Rock 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% | ← Hard as Rock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Hard as Rock 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 Hard as Rock, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canford Audio Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 419 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 December 2017 |
| BP North Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| BP South Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Burger King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2025 |
| Costa Coffee - Southbound Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2024 |
| Costa Coffee - Northbound Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
| Bright Star Nursery School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 November 2025 |
| Birtley Masonic Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2024 |
Questions about Hard as Rock
What is Hard as Rock's food hygiene rating?
Hard as Rock has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Gateshead Council on 24 February 2025.
Is Hard as Rock 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 Hard as Rock last inspected?
Hard as Rock was last inspected on 24 February 2025, 16 months 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 Hard as Rock?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Hard as Rock compare to other places in Gateshead?
81% of the 1,440 rated food businesses in Gateshead hold the top rating of 5, and Hard as Rock is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Gateshead Council inspects Hard as Rock 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 Hard as Rock 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
Hard as Rock is one of 102 rated food businesses in Birtley. See every hygiene rating in Birtley →
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 →