The Punch Bowl food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · York
The Punch Bowl 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 31 October 2022, more than 3 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 134 Lowther Street, York, YO31 7ND
How it compares in York
That puts The Punch Bowl among the 1,378 places in York holding top marks, 74% 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 | 1,378 | 74% | ← The Punch Bowl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 314 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 106 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 38 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 297 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 Very 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 Punch Bowl 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 Punch Bowl, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltic Food Store Retailers - other | 54 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 August 2019 |
| Black Horse Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2023 |
| Alys Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2026 |
| Arnot House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2019 |
| Ambiente Tapas Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2024 |
| Bar Hashery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 April 2024 |
| Bodrum Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2026 |
| Bennetts Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2025 |
Questions about The Punch Bowl
What is The Punch Bowl's food hygiene rating?
The Punch Bowl has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by York Council on 31 October 2022.
Is The Punch Bowl 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 Punch Bowl last inspected?
The Punch Bowl was last inspected on 31 October 2022, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by York Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Punch Bowl?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Punch Bowl compare to other places in York?
74% of the 1,854 rated food businesses in York hold the top rating of 5, and The Punch Bowl is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
York Council inspects The Punch Bowl 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 Punch Bowl and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
York inspects and rates 2,151 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in York →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.york.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 →