Below food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cumberland
Below 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 24 February 2023, more than 3 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: Basement, 4 Botchergate, Carlisle, CA1 1QS
How it compares in Cumberland
That puts Below among the 2,087 places in Cumberland holding top marks, 84% 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 | 2,087 | 84% | ← Below | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 285 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 258 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 Below 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 Below, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Station Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2024 |
| Alien Pub/bar/nightclub | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
| Amigos Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 August 2024 |
| Caffeine Rush Mobile caterer | 71 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 August 2017 |
| Bar Solo Pub/bar/nightclub | 71 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 February 2025 |
| Caledonian Pub/bar/nightclub | 71 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2017 |
| Cafe Local Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
| Ali Tandoori Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2026 |
Questions about Below
What is Below's food hygiene rating?
Below has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cumberland Council on 24 February 2023.
Is Below 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 Below last inspected?
Below was last inspected on 24 February 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Below?
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 Below compare to other places in Cumberland?
84% of the 2,490 rated food businesses in Cumberland hold the top rating of 5, and Below is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cumberland Council inspects Below 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 Below 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
Below is one of 562 rated food businesses in Carlisle. See every hygiene rating in Carlisle →
Cumberland inspects and rates 2,748 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cumberland.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 →