Harbour Lights food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · South Tyneside
Harbour Lights 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 29 January 2026, 5 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: 101 Lawe Road, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE33 2AJ
How it compares in South Tyneside
That puts Harbour Lights among the 721 places in South Tyneside holding top marks, 74% 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 | 721 | 74% | ← Harbour Lights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 164 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 63 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 Harbour Lights 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 Harbour Lights, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Bolam Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2014 |
| Baby I Love You Limited Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 January 2019 |
| Apna Gar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2024 |
| Beach News Mobile caterer | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Burger Bar Mile End Spice Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| Arman Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2026 |
| Admiral Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2020 |
| B & M Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2018 |
Questions about Harbour Lights
What is Harbour Lights's food hygiene rating?
Harbour Lights has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Tyneside Council on 29 January 2026.
Is Harbour Lights 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 Harbour Lights last inspected?
Harbour Lights was last inspected on 29 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Tyneside Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Harbour Lights?
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 Harbour Lights compare to other places in South Tyneside?
74% of the 975 rated food businesses in South Tyneside hold the top rating of 5, and Harbour Lights is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Tyneside Council inspects Harbour Lights 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 Harbour Lights 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
Harbour Lights is one of 925 rated food businesses in Tyne & Wear. See every hygiene rating in Tyne & Wear →
South Tyneside inspects and rates 1,038 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Tyneside →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.southtyneside.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 →