The Havelock Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Sunderland
The Havelock Arms 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 20 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: Bonemill Lane, Washington, NE38 8AJ
How it compares in Sunderland
That puts The Havelock Arms among the 1,634 places in Sunderland holding top marks, 84% 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 | 1,634 | 84% | ← The Havelock Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 193 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 74 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 365 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 Havelock Arms 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 Havelock Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best- One Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2018 |
| Co Op Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2022 |
| Barnwell Academy School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2024 |
| Asda CDC Manufacturers/packers | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 June 2025 |
| ASDA CDC8 Staff Canteen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
Questions about The Havelock Arms
What is The Havelock Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Havelock Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Sunderland Council on 20 January 2026.
Is The Havelock Arms 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 The Havelock Arms last inspected?
The Havelock Arms was last inspected on 20 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sunderland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Havelock Arms?
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 Havelock Arms compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,946 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, and The Havelock Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects The Havelock Arms 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 Havelock Arms 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 Havelock Arms is one of 287 rated food businesses in Washington. See every hygiene rating in Washington →
Sunderland inspects and rates 2,311 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sunderland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sunderland.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 →