Pillar Box Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Northumberland
Pillar Box Cafe holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 20 June 2025, 12 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: Main Street, Haltwhistle, Northumberland, NE49 0AZ
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts Pillar Box Cafe among the 2,775 places in Northumberland holding top marks, 90% 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 | 2,775 | 90% | ← Pillar Box Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 7% | ||
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 Pillar Box Cafe 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 Pillar Box Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haltwhistle Makers Market & Craft Emporium Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2025 |
| Haltwhistle Partnership Distributors/Transporters | at this address | Awaiting inspection | |
| Haltwhistle Tandoori Takeaway/sandwich shop | 41 yards away | 4 - Good | 24 October 2024 |
| Billy Bell Retailers - other | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Jethros Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2025 |
| The Snack Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 66 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2025 |
| Brew Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2024 |
| The Black Bull Pub/bar/nightclub | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
Questions about Pillar Box Cafe
What is Pillar Box Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Pillar Box Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 20 June 2025.
Is Pillar Box Cafe 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Pillar Box Cafe last inspected?
Pillar Box Cafe was last inspected on 20 June 2025, 12 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 Pillar Box Cafe?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Pillar Box Cafe compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and Pillar Box Cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects Pillar Box Cafe 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 Pillar Box Cafe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Pillar Box Cafe is one of 43 rated food businesses in Haltwhistle. See every hygiene rating in Haltwhistle →
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 →