The Elephant food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Northumberland
The Elephant 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 22 October 2025, 8 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: Newbiggin Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 0SZ
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Elephant among the 2,778 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 | 2,778 | 90% | ← The Elephant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 213 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 68 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | <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 Very 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 Elephant 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 Elephant, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashington Convenience Store Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
| Ashington Service Station Retailers - other | 253 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 May 2022 |
| Bakery 79 / Pizza 79 Retailers - other | 253 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2026 |
| Betty's Bakes Cakes & Sandwich Deli Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2026 |
| Co-operative Group Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Cambois Rowing Club Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2024 |
| College Food & Wine Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2022 |
| Deli Express Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
Questions about The Elephant
What is The Elephant's food hygiene rating?
The Elephant has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 22 October 2025.
Is The Elephant 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 Elephant last inspected?
The Elephant was last inspected on 22 October 2025, 8 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 Elephant?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Elephant compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,077 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Elephant is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Elephant 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 Elephant 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 Elephant is one of 217 rated food businesses in Ashington. See every hygiene rating in Ashington →
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 →