Hare & Hounds food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Wigan
Hare & Hounds holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 6 March 2026, 4 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: 142 Upholland Road, Billinge, Wigan, WN5 7JH
How it compares in Wigan
A 2 is rare: only 108 of 2,330 rated places in Wigan score this low, about one in 22. By contrast 54% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,257 | 54% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 524 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 372 | 16% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 108 | 5% | ← Hare & Hounds | |
| 1 out of 5 | 64 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 231 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Hare & Hounds the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Hare & Hounds, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bispham Hall Recreation Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2019 |
| Bag & Bean Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| England & Sons Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2025 |
| Asda Express PFS Billinge Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2024 |
| Billinge Bakehouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
| Ella UK LTD Caring Premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2024 |
| Eagle & Child Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2026 |
| Aidan's Pantry Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2023 |
Questions about Hare & Hounds
What is Hare & Hounds's food hygiene rating?
Hare & Hounds has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Wigan Council on 6 March 2026.
Is Hare & Hounds safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Hare & Hounds last inspected?
Hare & Hounds was last inspected on 6 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Wigan Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Hare & Hounds?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Hare & Hounds compare to other places in Wigan?
54% of the 2,330 rated food businesses in Wigan hold the top rating of 5, while Hare & Hounds holds a 2. 108 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Wigan Council inspects Hare & Hounds 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 Hare & Hounds and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Wigan, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Wigan
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Hare & Hounds is one of 21 rated food businesses in Billinge. See every hygiene rating in Billinge →
Wigan inspects and rates 2,561 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Wigan →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.wigan.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 →