Browns food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · North Tyneside
Browns 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 16 April 2026, 2 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: The Exchange Bar And Restaurant, Saville Exchange, Howard Street, NE30 1SE
How it compares in North Tyneside
That puts Browns among the 1,250 places in North Tyneside holding top marks, 87% 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 | 1,250 | 87% | ← Browns | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 118 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 43 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 68 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 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 Browns 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 Browns, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Supermarket North Shields Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2023 |
| B&M Retailers - other | 200 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2025 |
| Barrys Fruit & Veg Retailers - other | 358 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2023 |
| Babas Loft Pub/bar/nightclub | 372 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| Borough Of Tynemouth Unionist Club Retailers - other | 388 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 March 2026 |
| Arbor Seven Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 407 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Bloom And Berry Pub/bar/nightclub | 436 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 June 2026 |
| Barnardos Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2025 |
Questions about Browns
What is Browns's food hygiene rating?
Browns has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Tyneside Council on 16 April 2026.
Is Browns 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 Browns last inspected?
Browns was last inspected on 16 April 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Tyneside Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Browns?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Browns compare to other places in North Tyneside?
87% of the 1,440 rated food businesses in North Tyneside hold the top rating of 5, and Browns is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Tyneside Council inspects Browns 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 Browns and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Browns is one of 356 rated food businesses in North Shields. See every hygiene rating in North Shields →
North Tyneside inspects and rates 1,508 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Tyneside →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northtyneside.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 →