Blue Bell Hotel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Northumberland
Blue Bell Hotel holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 22 October 2025, 8 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: Market Place, Belford, Northumberland, NE70 7NE
How it compares in Northumberland
In Northumberland, 90% of rated places manage a 5, so Blue Bell Hotel sits behind roughly 2,775 nearby businesses. 7% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,775 | 90% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 7% | ← Blue Bell Hotel | |
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 393 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Blue Bell Hotel 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 Blue Bell Hotel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Back Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| The Black Swan Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Market Cross Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2026 |
| Belford Village Shop & Deli Retailers - other | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 March 2026 |
| Well House Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 119 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| The Salmon Pub/bar/nightclub | 119 yards away | 4 - Good | 4 June 2026 |
| Co-operative Group Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| John Dory Fish & Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
Questions about Blue Bell Hotel
What is Blue Bell Hotel's food hygiene rating?
Blue Bell Hotel has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Northumberland Council on 22 October 2025.
Is Blue Bell Hotel safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Blue Bell Hotel last inspected?
Blue Bell Hotel was last inspected on 22 October 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Northumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Blue Bell Hotel?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Blue Bell Hotel compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, while Blue Bell Hotel holds a 4. 214 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects Blue Bell Hotel 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 Blue Bell Hotel and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Blue Bell Hotel is one of 20 rated food businesses in Belford. See every hygiene rating in Belford →
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,466 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Northumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northumberland.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 →