Shepherds Dene Retreat food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · Northumberland
Shepherds Dene Retreat holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the hotel met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 19 November 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Riding Mill, Northumberland, NE44 6AF
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts Shepherds Dene Retreat 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% | ← Shepherds Dene Retreat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Shepherds Dene Retreat 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 Shepherds Dene Retreat, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riding Mill Village Halls Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2023 |
| Burn Brae RCH Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2026 |
| Broomhaugh C of E First School School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2024 |
| Riding Mill Outdoor Preschool Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2024 |
| Riding Mill Village Hall Other catering premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 November 2023 |
| Wellington Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Deli @ The Station Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2024 |
| Wentworth Grange Nursing Home Caring Premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
Questions about Shepherds Dene Retreat
What is Shepherds Dene Retreat's food hygiene rating?
Shepherds Dene Retreat has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 19 November 2024.
Is Shepherds Dene Retreat 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 hotel to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Shepherds Dene Retreat last inspected?
Shepherds Dene Retreat was last inspected on 19 November 2024, 19 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 Shepherds Dene Retreat?
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 Shepherds Dene Retreat compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and Shepherds Dene Retreat is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects Shepherds Dene Retreat 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 Shepherds Dene Retreat and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →