Merlewood food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Hyndburn
Merlewood holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 26 August 2025, 10 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: 52 Park Lane, Great Harwood, Lancashire, BB6 7RF
How it compares in Hyndburn
That puts Merlewood among the 448 places in Hyndburn holding top marks, 63% 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 | 448 | 63% | ← Merlewood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 188 | 26% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 56 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 16 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 53 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 Merlewood 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 Merlewood, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Churchfield House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 250 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Crazy Crackers @ St Bartholomew's C of E School School/college/university | 383 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2025 |
| Finch Bakery Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
| 'The Elms' Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2024 |
| Brie Mine UK Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2025 |
| Flow Wellbeing Network Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| Clayton Street Chippy Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2024 |
Questions about Merlewood
What is Merlewood's food hygiene rating?
Merlewood has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Hyndburn Council on 26 August 2025.
Is Merlewood 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 care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Merlewood last inspected?
Merlewood was last inspected on 26 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Hyndburn Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Merlewood?
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 Merlewood compare to other places in Hyndburn?
63% of the 716 rated food businesses in Hyndburn hold the top rating of 5, and Merlewood is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Hyndburn Council inspects Merlewood 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 Merlewood and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Merlewood is one of 89 rated food businesses in Great Harwood. See every hygiene rating in Great Harwood →
Hyndburn inspects and rates 769 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Hyndburn →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.hyndburnbc.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 →