The Shepherds Rest food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Northumberland
The Shepherds Rest 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 2 October 2025, 9 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: Clayport Bank, Alnwick Moor, Alnwick, NE66 2AH
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Shepherds Rest 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 Shepherds Rest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Shepherds Rest 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 Shepherds Rest, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alnwick News Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 June 2022 |
| Castle View Nursing Home Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Beech House Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 April 2025 |
| Alnwick Family Hub Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2024 |
| Alnwick North Community Centre Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2026 |
| Harry Hotspur CofE Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 April 2025 |
| Mighty Oaks Mobile caterer | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2023 |
| Summerhill Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
Questions about The Shepherds Rest
What is The Shepherds Rest's food hygiene rating?
The Shepherds Rest has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 2 October 2025.
Is The Shepherds Rest 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 Shepherds Rest last inspected?
The Shepherds Rest was last inspected on 2 October 2025, 9 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 Shepherds Rest?
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 Shepherds Rest compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,077 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Shepherds Rest is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Shepherds Rest 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 Shepherds Rest and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Shepherds Rest is one of 152 rated food businesses in Alnwick. See every hygiene rating in Alnwick →
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 →