Black Friar food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Black Friar 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 18 February 2026, 4 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: 138 High Street, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 1PT
How it compares in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
That puts Black Friar among the 779 places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme 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 | 779 | 87% | ← Black Friar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 70 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 85 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 Black Friar 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 Black Friar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 166 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2025 |
| Art of Siam Restaurant Other catering premises | 272 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2024 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 272 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Breeze Bowls Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 288 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Amore Italian Restaurant & Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 302 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| Boba Trent Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 322 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Abdullah Abbas Retailers - other | 325 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2026 |
| Boat & Horses Pub/bar/nightclub | 350 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
Questions about Black Friar
What is Black Friar's food hygiene rating?
Black Friar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council on 18 February 2026.
Is Black Friar 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 Black Friar last inspected?
Black Friar was last inspected on 18 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Black Friar?
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 Black Friar compare to other places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
87% of the 894 rated food businesses in Newcastle-Under-Lyme hold the top rating of 5, and Black Friar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council inspects Black Friar 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 Black Friar and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Black Friar is one of 618 rated food businesses in Newcastle under Lyme. See every hygiene rating in Newcastle under Lyme →
Newcastle-Under-Lyme inspects and rates 979 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newcastle-Under-Lyme →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newcastle-staffs.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 →