The Spinning Mule food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bolton
The Spinning Mule 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 2 March 2025, 16 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: Nelson Square, Bolton, BL1 1JT
How it compares in Bolton
That puts The Spinning Mule among the 1,220 places in Bolton holding top marks, 55% 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 | 1,220 | 55% | ← The Spinning Mule | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 476 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 315 | 14% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 76 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 103 | 5% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 10 | <1% |
A further 186 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 Spinning Mule 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 Spinning Mule, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balmoral Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| American Sweet & Vapes Retailers - other | 89 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Bolton Bae Retailers - other | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2025 |
| AD Bodytech Health & Nutrition Ltd Retailers - other | 117 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| Admiral Casino Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 154 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Bolton Socialist Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 156 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Admiral Casino Retailers - other | 209 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Bolton Excellency Other catering premises | 231 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2025 |
Questions about The Spinning Mule
What is The Spinning Mule's food hygiene rating?
The Spinning Mule has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bolton Council on 2 March 2025.
Is The Spinning Mule 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 Spinning Mule last inspected?
The Spinning Mule was last inspected on 2 March 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bolton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Spinning Mule?
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 Spinning Mule compare to other places in Bolton?
55% of the 2,200 rated food businesses in Bolton hold the top rating of 5, and The Spinning Mule is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bolton Council inspects The Spinning Mule 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 Spinning Mule 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
Bolton inspects and rates 2,386 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bolton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bolton.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 →