Black Bull Hotel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Westmorland and Furness
Black Bull Hotel holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 28 August 2025, 12 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.
96% of rated food businesses in Westmorland and Furness score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Westmorland and Furness ratings →
Address: 38 Market Street, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4QW
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near Black Bull Hotel
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 it compares in Westmorland and Furness
In Westmorland and Furness, 87% of rated places manage a 5, so Black Bull Hotel sits behind roughly 2,439 nearby businesses. 9% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,439 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 260 | 9% | ← Black Bull Hotel | |
| 3 out of 5 | 82 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 348 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Black Bull Hotel 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 Black Bull Hotel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archway Fish and Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2026 |
| Mic Macs Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2024 |
| Old Croft House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2016 |
| The White Hare Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2024 |
| Horse Shoe Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 17 October 2024 |
| Guappo Hair Design Other catering premises | 39 yards away | Exempt | |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| Appleby Bakery Retailers - other | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2024 |
Questions about Black Bull Hotel
What is Black Bull Hotel's food hygiene rating?
Black Bull Hotel has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Westmorland and Furness Council on 28 August 2025.
Is Black Bull Hotel safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Black Bull Hotel last inspected?
Black Bull Hotel was last inspected on 28 August 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Westmorland and Furness Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Black Bull Hotel?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Black Bull Hotel compare to other places in Westmorland and Furness?
87% of the 2,808 rated food businesses in Westmorland and Furness hold the top rating of 5, while Black Bull Hotel holds a 4. 260 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Westmorland and Furness Council inspects Black Bull Hotel 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 Black Bull Hotel and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Black Bull Hotel is one of 84 rated food businesses in Kirkby Stephen. See every hygiene rating in Kirkby Stephen →
Westmorland and Furness inspects and rates 3,156 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Westmorland and Furness →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westmorlandandfurness.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 →