The Lab Northampton food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Northamptonshire
The Lab Northampton holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 21 November 2025, 7 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: 97 Charles Street, Northampton, Nn1 3bg, NN1 3BG
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
In West Northamptonshire, 78% of rated places manage a 5, so The Lab Northampton sits behind roughly 2,943 nearby businesses. 8% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,565 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 378 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ← The Lab Northampton | |
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 43 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 The Lab Northampton 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 Lab Northampton, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balti King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 68 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| ALDI Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 221 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2024 |
| @MP Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 426 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 November 2023 |
| Best Pol Delicatessen Retailers - other | 430 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2024 |
| Aspens Services Ltd School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| Bestpol Supermarket Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 November 2023 |
| Albert J Ramsbottom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2024 |
| Aspen Services School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 May 2023 |
Questions about The Lab Northampton
What is The Lab Northampton's food hygiene rating?
The Lab Northampton has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 21 November 2025.
Is The Lab Northampton safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was The Lab Northampton last inspected?
The Lab Northampton was last inspected on 21 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lab Northampton?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Lab Northampton compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Lab Northampton holds a 3. 251 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects The Lab Northampton 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 Lab Northampton 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 Lab Northampton is one of 1,617 rated food businesses in Northampton. See every hygiene rating in Northampton →
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →