Penny Blue food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Cumberland
Penny Blue holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 January 2026, 6 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: Penny Blue, 20-34 Warwick Road, Carlisle, CA1 1AB
How it compares in Cumberland
That puts Penny Blue among the 2,087 places in Cumberland holding top marks, 84% 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 | 2,087 | 84% | ← Penny Blue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 285 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 258 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 Very 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 Penny Blue 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 Penny Blue, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddha Bowl Takeaway/sandwich shop | 42 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2026 |
| Base Express Takeaway/sandwich shop | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2026 |
| Bar Solo Pub/bar/nightclub | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 February 2025 |
| Caledonian Pub/bar/nightclub | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2017 |
| Amigos Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 August 2024 |
| Alien Pub/bar/nightclub | 86 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
| Biggies Takeaway/sandwich shop | 113 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
| Alexandros Greek Delicatessesn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2024 |
Questions about Penny Blue
What is Penny Blue's food hygiene rating?
Penny Blue has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cumberland Council on 7 January 2026.
Is Penny Blue 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Penny Blue last inspected?
Penny Blue was last inspected on 7 January 2026, 6 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Penny Blue?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Penny Blue compare to other places in Cumberland?
84% of the 2,490 rated food businesses in Cumberland hold the top rating of 5, and Penny Blue is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cumberland Council inspects Penny Blue 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 Penny Blue and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Penny Blue is one of 562 rated food businesses in Carlisle. See every hygiene rating in Carlisle →
Cumberland inspects and rates 2,748 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cumberland.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 →