The Old Rectory food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · Northumberland
The Old Rectory 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 20 March 2025, 15 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: Howick, Northumberland, NE66 3LE
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Old Rectory 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 Old Rectory | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Old Rectory 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 Rectory, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howick Village Hall Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2026 |
| The Earl Grey Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
| Thomas H BK280 Farmers/growers | 1.1 miles away | Exempt | |
| The Arch at Craster Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2026 |
| Piper's Pitch Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2026 |
| Shoreline Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Craster Memorial Hall Other catering premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2024 |
| Jolly Fisherman Mobile caterer | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
Questions about The Old Rectory
What is The Old Rectory's food hygiene rating?
The Old Rectory has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 20 March 2025.
Is The Old Rectory 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 The Old Rectory last inspected?
The Old Rectory was last inspected on 20 March 2025, 15 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 Old Rectory?
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 Rectory compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Old Rectory is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Old Rectory 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 Rectory 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 3,466 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 →