The Golden Ball food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · South Ribble
The Golden Ball 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
This is a fresh result: The Golden Ball was inspected on 14 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
96% of rated food businesses in South Ribble score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all South Ribble ratings →
Address: 150 Liverpool Road, Longton, Preston, PR4 5AU
How this rating has changed
The Golden Ball was re-inspected on 14 July 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 14 July 2026 | AwaitingInspection 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 South Ribble
That puts The Golden Ball among the 684 places in South Ribble holding top marks, 94% 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 | 684 | 94% | ← The Golden Ball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 17 | 2% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 16 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 111 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 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 The Golden Ball 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 Golden Ball, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Fish Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2026 |
| Smokies Grill Hut Mobile caterer | 116 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2026 |
| Lemon Tree Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 145 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 May 2023 |
| Longton Nursing and Residentail Home Caring Premises | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
| Orchid Cafe and Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 163 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2026 |
| Ashleigh Nursery Caring Premises | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2026 |
| Booths Supermarkets Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 180 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2025 |
| Black Bull Pub/bar/nightclub | 356 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2021 |
Questions about The Golden Ball
What is The Golden Ball's food hygiene rating?
The Golden Ball has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Ribble Council on 14 July 2026.
Is The Golden Ball 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 Golden Ball last inspected?
The Golden Ball was last inspected on 14 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Ribble Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Golden Ball?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Golden Ball compare to other places in South Ribble?
94% of the 724 rated food businesses in South Ribble hold the top rating of 5, and The Golden Ball is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Ribble Council inspects The Golden Ball 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 Golden Ball 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
The Golden Ball is one of 30 rated food businesses in Longton. See every hygiene rating in Longton →
South Ribble inspects and rates 835 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Ribble →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southribble.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 →