The Blacktown Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Derry City and Strabane
The Blacktown Arms 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 6 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Scraghy Road, Meencarriga, Killen, BT81 7SL
How it compares in Derry City and Strabane
That puts The Blacktown Arms 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% | ← The Blacktown Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Blacktown Arms 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 Blacktown Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scraghey Community Centre Other catering premises | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 April 2026 |
| O'Donnell's Nearby Retailers - other | 2.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2024 |
| Killeter Chippy Takeaway/sandwich shop | 2.4 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 13 June 2025 |
| Shepherds Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2026 |
| Killeter Heritage & Enterprise Centre Other catering premises | 2.4 miles away | Exempt | |
| T's Chippy Takeaway/sandwich shop | 2.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 15 May 2025 |
| The Hawks Claw Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2025 |
| The Village Store Retailers - other | 2.6 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 11 December 2024 |
Questions about The Blacktown Arms
What is The Blacktown Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Blacktown Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Derry City and Strabane Council on 6 February 2024.
Is The Blacktown Arms 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 Blacktown Arms last inspected?
The Blacktown Arms was last inspected on 6 February 2024, more than 2 years 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 The Blacktown Arms?
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 The Blacktown Arms 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 The Blacktown Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Derry City and Strabane Council inspects The Blacktown Arms 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 Blacktown Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Blacktown Arms is one of 236 rated food businesses in Tyrone. See every hygiene rating in Tyrone →
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 →