The Blackbird food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Northumberland
The Blackbird 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 7 May 2025, 14 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: North Road, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 9UH
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Blackbird 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% | ← The Blackbird | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Blackbird 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 Blackbird, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponteland Manor Caring Premises | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| St Marys Church Hall Other catering premises | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Fun Little Foodies Other catering premises | 172 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 August 2022 |
| Elliott's of Ponteland Retailers - other | 279 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 May 2026 |
| Gills Fish and Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 279 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2026 |
| Lorenzo's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 279 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2024 |
| Mogul Raj Tandoori Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 279 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2025 |
| One Stop Stores Ltd Retailers - other | 279 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2026 |
Questions about The Blackbird
What is The Blackbird's food hygiene rating?
The Blackbird has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 7 May 2025.
Is The Blackbird 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 The Blackbird last inspected?
The Blackbird was last inspected on 7 May 2025, 14 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 The Blackbird?
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 Blackbird compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Blackbird is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Blackbird 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 Blackbird and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Blackbird is one of 65 rated food businesses in Ponteland. See every hygiene rating in Ponteland →
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 →