The Old Dairy food hygiene rating
Manufacturers/packers · Northumberland
The Old Dairy holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the food producer met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 3 May 2023, more than 3 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Ford, Northumberland, TD15 2PX
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Old Dairy among the 2,779 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 | 2,779 | 90% | ← The Old Dairy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 397 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 Old Dairy 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 Old Dairy, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGL Ford Castle Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
| The Estate House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2019 |
| Ford Village Store & Post Office Retailers - other | 259 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
| Hay Farm Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2026 |
| Hay Farm House Bed & Breakfast Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2026 |
| Corn Mill Coffee House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2025 |
| Heatherslaw Cornmill Giftshop Retailers - other | 1.0 miles away | Exempt |
Questions about The Old Dairy
What is The Old Dairy's food hygiene rating?
The Old Dairy has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 3 May 2023.
Is The Old Dairy 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 food producer to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Old Dairy last inspected?
The Old Dairy was last inspected on 3 May 2023, more than 3 years 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 Old Dairy?
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 Old Dairy compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,077 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Old Dairy is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Old Dairy 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 Old Dairy 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
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,474 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 →