The Old Black Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Powys
The Old Black Lion 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
This is a fresh result: The Old Black Lion was inspected on 28 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
93% of rated food businesses in Powys score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Powys ratings →
Address: 26 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, HR3 5AD
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near The Old Black Lion
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How this rating has changed
The Old Black Lion was re-inspected on 28 August 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 28 August 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 Powys
That puts The Old Black Lion among the 1,720 places in Powys holding top marks, 74% 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 | 1,720 | 74% | ← The Old Black Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 438 | 19% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 299 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 Black Lion 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 Black Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kates Bakery Other catering premises | 120 yards away | 4 - Good | 9 September 2019 |
| AMR Catering Pub/bar/nightclub | 120 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 15 January 2026 |
| Country Supplies Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 157 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2026 |
| Kilverts Ltd Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 174 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 9 July 2025 |
| The Mixing Bowl (Angies) Takeaway/sandwich shop | 180 yards away | 4 - Good | 5 June 2026 |
| Fir by Matt Sampson Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 224 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2026 |
| The Salad Project (Leaf) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 224 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2026 |
| Tomatitos Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 224 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2025 |
Questions about The Old Black Lion
What is The Old Black Lion's food hygiene rating?
The Old Black Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Powys Council on 28 August 2026.
Is The Old Black Lion 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 Old Black Lion last inspected?
The Old Black Lion was last inspected on 28 August 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Powys Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Old Black Lion?
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 Black Lion compare to other places in Powys?
74% of the 2,313 rated food businesses in Powys hold the top rating of 5, and The Old Black Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Powys Council inspects The Old Black Lion 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 Black Lion 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 Old Black Lion is one of 79 rated food businesses in Hereford. See every hygiene rating in Hereford →
Powys inspects and rates 2,612 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Powys →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.powys.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 →