The Merry Chef food hygiene rating
Mobile caterer · Hartlepool
The Merry Chef holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the mobile caterer met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 8 August 2025, 11 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: Mainsforth Terrace, Hartlepool, TS25 1NR
How it compares in Hartlepool
That puts The Merry Chef 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% | ← The Merry Chef | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Merry Chef 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 Merry Chef, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cozzmic Cakes Other catering premises | 357 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2024 |
| Bloom Childcare Ltd Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2025 |
| Blacksmiths Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| Cousin's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
| Brocketts Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| Belle Vue Way Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Big Bamboo Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| 7ven Lounge and Terrace Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
Questions about The Merry Chef
What is The Merry Chef's food hygiene rating?
The Merry Chef has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Hartlepool Council on 8 August 2025.
Is The Merry Chef 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 mobile caterer to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Merry Chef last inspected?
The Merry Chef was last inspected on 8 August 2025, 11 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 The Merry Chef?
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 The Merry Chef compare to other places in Hartlepool?
91% of the 741 rated food businesses in Hartlepool hold the top rating of 5, and The Merry Chef is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Hartlepool Council inspects The Merry Chef 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 Merry Chef 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 →