The Empire food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Rochdale
The Empire 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 18 December 2024, 18 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Packer Street, Rochdale, OL16 1NJ
How it compares in Rochdale
In Rochdale, 73% of rated places manage a 5, so The Empire sits behind roughly 1,090 nearby businesses. 14% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,090 | 73% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 216 | 14% | ← The Empire | |
| 3 out of 5 | 79 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 51 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 54 | 4% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 402 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Empire 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 Empire, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia Caffe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Broadfield Community Primary School School/college/university | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| Card Factory Retailers - other | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| A2z African Store Retailers - other | 253 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 August 2021 |
| Admiral Casino Retailers - other | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2025 |
| Cafe Grande Abaco Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 305 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2025 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 307 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2023 |
| Caring and Sharing Hub Retailers - other | 357 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
Questions about The Empire
What is The Empire's food hygiene rating?
The Empire has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Rochdale Council on 18 December 2024.
Is The Empire 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 The Empire last inspected?
The Empire was last inspected on 18 December 2024, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Rochdale Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Empire?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Empire compare to other places in Rochdale?
73% of the 1,494 rated food businesses in Rochdale hold the top rating of 5, while The Empire holds a 4. 216 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Rochdale Council inspects The Empire 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 Empire and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Rochdale inspects and rates 1,896 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Rochdale →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.rochdale.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 →