The Back Kitchen food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Northumberland
The Back Kitchen 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 22 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: Market Place, Belford, Northumberland, NE70 7ND
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Back Kitchen among the 2,775 places in Northumberland holding top marks, 90% 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 | 2,775 | 90% | ← The Back Kitchen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 393 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 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 The Back Kitchen 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 Back Kitchen, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Black Swan Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Market Cross Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2026 |
| Blue Bell Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 67 yards away | 4 - Good | 22 October 2025 |
| Well House Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| The Salmon Pub/bar/nightclub | 107 yards away | 4 - Good | 4 June 2026 |
| Belford Village Shop & Deli Retailers - other | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 March 2026 |
| Co-operative Group Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 186 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| John Dory Fish & Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 186 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
Questions about The Back Kitchen
What is The Back Kitchen's food hygiene rating?
The Back Kitchen has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 22 January 2026.
Is The Back Kitchen 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 The Back Kitchen last inspected?
The Back Kitchen was last inspected on 22 January 2026, 5 months 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 The Back Kitchen?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Back Kitchen compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Back Kitchen is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Back Kitchen 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 Back Kitchen 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 Back Kitchen is one of 20 rated food businesses in Belford. See every hygiene rating in Belford →
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,466 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 →