Blackbird food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Derry City and Strabane
Blackbird 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 22 September 2025, 9 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: Lesley House Foyle Street, Derry, BT48 6AL
How it compares in Derry City and Strabane
That puts Blackbird among the 924 places in Derry City and Strabane holding top marks, 76% 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 | 924 | 76% | ← Blackbird | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 225 | 19% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 60 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 127 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 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 Blackbird 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 Blackbird, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Mona Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 36 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2024 |
| Awakening Retailers - other | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Artis by phelim o hagan Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 193 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
| Buddies Diner Mobile caterer | 193 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 September 2025 |
| Claude's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 197 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
| Castle Gate 12 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 207 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| Brickwork Lounge Pub/bar/nightclub | 227 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
Questions about Blackbird
What is Blackbird's food hygiene rating?
Blackbird has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Derry City and Strabane Council on 22 September 2025.
Is Blackbird 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 Blackbird last inspected?
Blackbird was last inspected on 22 September 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Derry City and Strabane Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Blackbird?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Blackbird compare to other places in Derry City and Strabane?
76% of the 1,215 rated food businesses in Derry City and Strabane hold the top rating of 5, and Blackbird is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Derry City and Strabane Council inspects Blackbird 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 Blackbird and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Blackbird is one of 70 rated food businesses in Derry. See every hygiene rating in Derry →
Derry City and Strabane inspects and rates 1,342 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Derry City and Strabane →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.derrystrabane.com
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 →