Blacksmiths Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Hartlepool
Blacksmiths 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 12 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: Stranton, Hartlepool, TS24 7QT
How it compares in Hartlepool
That puts Blacksmiths Arms among the 672 places in Hartlepool holding top marks, 91% 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 | 672 | 91% | ← Blacksmiths Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 49 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 30 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 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 Blacksmiths 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 Blacksmiths Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 283 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2026 |
| Best-One Burn Valley Wines Retailers - other | 287 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2025 |
| Bloom Childcare Ltd Caring Premises | 344 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2025 |
| Charlotte Grange Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2025 |
| 11 O'Clock Shop (Lifestyle Express) Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2025 |
| Boyes Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
| Cousin's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
Questions about Blacksmiths Arms
What is Blacksmiths Arms's food hygiene rating?
Blacksmiths Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Hartlepool Council on 12 January 2026.
Is Blacksmiths 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 Blacksmiths Arms last inspected?
Blacksmiths Arms was last inspected on 12 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Hartlepool Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Blacksmiths Arms?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Blacksmiths Arms compare to other places in Hartlepool?
91% of the 741 rated food businesses in Hartlepool hold the top rating of 5, and Blacksmiths Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Hartlepool Council inspects Blacksmiths 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 Blacksmiths 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
Hartlepool inspects and rates 771 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Hartlepool →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.hartlepool.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 →