Black Horse Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · St Helens
Black Horse Inn 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 29 April 2026, 2 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: Black Horse Hotel, 70 Rainhill Road, Rainhill, L35 4PF
How it compares in St Helens
That puts Black Horse Inn among the 911 places in St Helens holding top marks, 72% 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 | 911 | 72% | ← Black Horse Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 200 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 105 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 34 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 93 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 Horse Inn 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 Horse Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedric House Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Coach & Horses Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2025 |
| Commercial Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2025 |
| Cookhouse Pub and Carvery Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2026 |
| Blue Mango Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2026 |
| Chung Ku Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 April 2024 |
| Bargain Booze Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2025 |
| Avondale Nursing Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2026 |
Questions about Black Horse Inn
What is Black Horse Inn's food hygiene rating?
Black Horse Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by St Helens Council on 29 April 2026.
Is Black Horse Inn 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 Horse Inn last inspected?
Black Horse Inn was last inspected on 29 April 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by St Helens Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Black Horse Inn?
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 Horse Inn compare to other places in St Helens?
72% of the 1,274 rated food businesses in St Helens hold the top rating of 5, and Black Horse Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
St Helens Council inspects Black Horse Inn 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 Horse Inn 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 Horse Inn is one of 58 rated food businesses in Rainhill. See every hygiene rating in Rainhill →
St Helens inspects and rates 1,367 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in St Helens →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sthelens.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 →