Polite Vicar food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Polite Vicar 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 17 December 2025, 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: The Polite Vicar, Etruria Road, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 0LU
How it compares in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
That puts Polite Vicar among the 779 places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme holding top marks, 87% 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 | 779 | 87% | ← Polite Vicar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 70 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 85 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 Polite Vicar 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 Polite Vicar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amanda Copeland Hair and Beauty Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Alison House Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2024 |
| Basmati Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| Beechwood Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
| Belle A Pepe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2026 |
| Artisan Tap Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2021 |
| Abdullah Abbas Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2026 |
| Anasma Greek Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
Questions about Polite Vicar
What is Polite Vicar's food hygiene rating?
Polite Vicar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council on 17 December 2025.
Is Polite Vicar 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 Polite Vicar last inspected?
Polite Vicar was last inspected on 17 December 2025, 6 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Polite Vicar?
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 Polite Vicar compare to other places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
87% of the 894 rated food businesses in Newcastle-Under-Lyme hold the top rating of 5, and Polite Vicar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council inspects Polite Vicar 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 Polite Vicar and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Polite Vicar is one of 618 rated food businesses in Newcastle under Lyme. See every hygiene rating in Newcastle under Lyme →
Newcastle-Under-Lyme inspects and rates 979 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newcastle-Under-Lyme →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newcastle-staffs.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 →