Food Hygiene Ratings in Hartlepool

764 food businesses in the source snapshot. Average rating: 4.9 out of 5. 89.9% rated "very good".

764
Businesses
4.9/5
Average Rating
2
Rated 0 or 1
89.9%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good89.9%662
Good7.2%53
Satisfactory2.3%17
Improvement Needed0.3%2
Major Improvement0.1%1
Urgent Improvement0.1%1

Business types

Retailers - other18824.6%
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen14318.7%
Takeaway/sandwich shop11515.1%
Pub/bar/nightclub10814.1%
Other catering premises769.9%
Caring Premises536.9%
School/college/university425.5%
Mobile caterer152.0%

Food hygiene ratings in Hartlepool are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Inspections are carried out by trained environmental health officers; not every registered business has a published rating. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.

The source snapshot contains 764 registered food businesses for Hartlepool. Of these, 736 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 89.9% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.9 out of 5. The snapshot contains 2 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they required urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.

If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.

Source snapshots

Retrieval is not an inspection date. Ratings may change; verify individual businesses with the official authority. Missing or conflicting results are not counted as a pass.

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
Masala LoungeTS26 8AQ0Sep 10, 2026
Osborne's Convenience StoreTS26 9EW1Jul 03, 2026
Fire PlaceTS24 0BN2May 27, 2026
Raby Road Convenience Store (Premier)TS24 8EH2Sep 07, 2026

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Hartlepool have a 5 rating?+

The source snapshot contains 662 food businesses in Hartlepool with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 89.9% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.

What does a food hygiene rating of 1 mean in Hartlepool?+

A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.

How often are food businesses inspected in Hartlepool?+

Inspection frequency in Hartlepool depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.

Data from official government food safety agencies