The Highwayman food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Gateshead
The Highwayman 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 Highwayman was inspected on 1 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Whickham Highway, Dunston, NE11 9QJ
How it compares in Gateshead
That puts The Highwayman among the 1,170 places in Gateshead holding top marks, 81% 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 | 1,170 | 81% | ← The Highwayman | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 197 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 58 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 202 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 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 The Highwayman 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 Highwayman, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrys Home Bakery Limited Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2025 |
| Belta Bargains Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Bay Horse Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2025 |
| All Saints Church Hall Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
Questions about The Highwayman
What is The Highwayman's food hygiene rating?
The Highwayman has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Gateshead Council on 1 June 2026.
Is The Highwayman 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 Highwayman last inspected?
The Highwayman was last inspected on 1 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Gateshead Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Highwayman?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Highwayman compare to other places in Gateshead?
81% of the 1,436 rated food businesses in Gateshead hold the top rating of 5, and The Highwayman is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Gateshead Council inspects The Highwayman 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 Highwayman and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Highwayman is one of 60 rated food businesses in Dunston. See every hygiene rating in Dunston →
Gateshead inspects and rates 1,638 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Gateshead →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.gateshead.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 →