Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Northumberland
Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre 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
This is a fresh result: Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre was inspected on 22 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
98% of rated food businesses in Northumberland score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Northumberland ratings →
Address: C156 Belsay Junction To Hartburn Junction, Belsay, Northumberland, NE20 0HE
How this rating has changed
Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre was re-inspected on 22 July 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 22 July 2026 | 5 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre among the 2,815 places in Northumberland holding top marks, 91% 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 | 2,815 | 91% | ← Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 208 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 398 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 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 Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre 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 Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortflatt Tower Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2026 |
| Harnham Buddhist Monastery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2025 |
| Belsay Primary School School/college/university | 2.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| Belsay Hall Castle & Gardens Retailers - other | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2026 |
| Belsay Hall Castle & Gardens Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2023 |
| Belsay Hall Tearooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2025 |
| Blacksmiths Coffee Shop Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2025 |
| The Blacksmiths Barn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2023 |
Questions about Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre
What is Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre's food hygiene rating?
Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 22 July 2026.
Is Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre 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 Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre last inspected?
Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre was last inspected on 22 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Northumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre compare to other places in Northumberland?
91% of the 3,107 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre 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 Bolam Lake Country Park & Visitor Centre 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
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,505 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Northumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northumberland.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 →