Puffin Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Northumberland
Puffin Stores holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: Puffin Stores was inspected on 2 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 52 Northumberland Street, Alnmouth, Northumberland, NE66 2RJ
How this rating has changed
Puffin Stores was re-inspected on 2 July 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2 July 2026 | 5 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts Puffin Stores 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% | ← Puffin Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Puffin Stores 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 Puffin Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaches Bed & Breakfast Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 July 2023 |
| Red Lion Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
| Tea Cosy Tea Room & Summer Bistro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2025 |
| Nanna Pats Cafe & Bistro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 106 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Scotts of Alnmouth Retailers - other | 106 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| T/A The Schooner Hotel/Spice Galleon Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 106 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Hindmarsh Hall Other catering premises | 106 yards away | Exempt | |
| St Valery Boutique Bed & Breakfast Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2026 |
Questions about Puffin Stores
What is Puffin Stores's food hygiene rating?
Puffin Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 2 July 2026.
Is Puffin Stores 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Puffin Stores last inspected?
Puffin Stores was last inspected on 2 July 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Northumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Puffin Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Puffin Stores compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and Puffin Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects Puffin Stores 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 Puffin Stores 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
Puffin Stores is one of 19 rated food businesses in Alnmouth. See every hygiene rating in Alnmouth →
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 →