Average food hygiene rating for pubs, bars and clubs revealed across the UK, as more than 92% score a 4 or 5

A report from leading online training provider High Speed Training has revealed the average food hygiene rating for pubs, bars, and clubs across the UK.

The report, which analysed Food Standards Agency (FSA) data for food businesses across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, found that across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the average food hygiene rating for pubs, bars and clubs has risen to 4.64. An impressive 75.53% (33,356 businesses) received the top score of 5.

This shows a continued improvement on the 2024 report by High Speed Training, which calculated the average score at 4.63, demonstrating that already high standards have increased. In total, a combined 40,772 establishments, or 92.33% of the category, were rated as either a 4 or 5.

Pubs, bars and clubs continue to perform very well compared to other food businesses, such as restaurants, cafes and canteens, which received an average score of 4.58 in the 2025 analysis. A lower percentage of pubs, bars and clubs scored a 3 or below compared to the restaurant category, with just 7.67% (3,388 establishments) receiving a low score versus 10.81% for restaurants.

An extremely small number of pubs, bars or clubs, just 48 nationally, representing 0.11% of the category, received a zero for their hygiene rating. This figure is significantly lower than the 221 recorded for restaurants, cafes and canteens and 167 recorded for takeaways.

When looking at all food businesses together, the top-scoring region was the South West, with an average rating of 4.67 from over 21,000 premises. This was followed by the North East and Northern Ireland (4.64) and the East Midlands (4.62).

London had the lowest average rating in the study, with a score of 4.38, though the area had by far the most establishments, with almost 36,000 premises contributing to the rating. 

North West seaside town Southport topped the individual rankings, with a highly impressive 4.95 out of 5, closely followed by Ipswich and Lincoln and Stockton-On-Tees (all 4.89) and Hastings (4.86)

The bottom three were made up by Birmingham (4.11) and Wigan (4.09), and Bolton (4.08).

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is a partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that was launched in 2010. It replaced a number of regional schemes, with the aim of providing hygiene information clearly and more effectively across the UK. 

Following regular inspections, ratings are devised based on the standard of food handling hygiene, the physical condition of the premises and facilities and food safety management practices. 

These ratings are then made available on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website and are usually visible from outside of the premises, often presented in a window near the entrance.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, it is compulsory for businesses to display their food hygiene rating. However, in England it is currently just considered best practice.

Paul Turner CEnvH, MCIEH, an Environmental Health Officer for North Yorkshire Council, said: “Since its inception 15 years ago, the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme has played a pivotal role in improving standards across the UK. It has been incredibly successful in allowing local authorities and EHOs to effectively engage with both businesses and consumers to communicate important messages around food hygiene and safety.

“Prior to the launch, a number of regional ‘Scores on the Doors’ schemes existed that, though they were effective, didn’t easily allow for national comparison and benchmarking. A national standard means greater consistency for businesses and provides the public easy access to this vital information.

“However, we would welcome some updates to the FHRS to make it more suitable for the current landscape, which relies heavily on food delivery apps and aggregators. We would like to see this information displayed more prominently across these apps, perhaps with a traffic light system for easy identification.

“We are also always pushing to make the display of food hygiene ratings in England mandatory, as it is in Wales and Northern Ireland, to ensure that consumers have all the information they need to make informed choices about where to spend their hard-earned money.”

Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training comments: “Food safety and robust hygiene practices should be of paramount importance to food businesses, and to the customers who use them. 15 years have passed since the launch of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, and its place in the industry is as vital as ever. These ratings are a direct reflection of how safely and hygienically that establishment operates, and we urge businesses and customers to take them seriously.

 “For businesses that perform well, a high rating is a real selling point. However, establishments with a low hygiene rating can be extremely off-putting for customers, which ultimately have a significant impact on reputation and profitability.”

“Our report shows that, on average, standards remain high across the UK, and have improved from 2024. This commitment to correct food hygiene training for staff, alongside robust food management procedures and everyday good practices are crucial to keep performing at high standards.

“We would also urge customers to check the food hygiene ratings of establishments they wish to dine at, so that an informed call as to whether you eat there can be made.”

To view the report in full, and to see how your area compares to others, please visit www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/food-hygiene-ratings-report

Contact Information

Daniel Raymond daniel.raymond@highspeedtraining.co.uk

Notes to editors

For any additional information, interview requests or comments, please contact Daniel.Raymond@highspeedtraining.co.uk, PR & Brand Manager or Kira.Smith@highspeedtraining.co.uk, PR & Content Executive.

Data was downloaded in May 2025 from the official Food Standards Agency 'UK food hygiene rating data API' which details the overall food hygiene ratings, rating components, and inspection results of food establishments across the UK. For full methodology, please visit the Methodology section of the report.

High Speed Training

High Speed Training is a leading online training provider, dedicated to empowering learners in the workplace and beyond. They make compliance and learning simple, straightforward and engaging by delivering accredited digital training that helps people to be engaged, effective and safe.

With over 3 million learners supported to date, High Speed Training works with industry experts and specialists to provide up-to-date thinking and relevant, useful knowledge and deliver practical and user-friendly learning content across all devices.

Founded in 2008, the Yorkshire-based company delivers more than 170 specialist courses for the professional services, hospitality, food manufacture, logistics, education, construction, and health and social care sectors, as well as covering topics including health and safety, food hygiene, risk and compliance management, safeguarding, personal development and core skills.

Since 2023, High Speed training has been an employee-owned trust, and is now wholly owned by its employees, enabling staff to have a financial and directional say in how the business operates.

The company is a registered B Corp, a certification ensuring that businesses meet high standards of social and environmental impact, focusing on a company’s approach to its governance, customers, environment and communities.

In 2023, High Speed Training won the Learning Technologies Organisation of the Year award, and won the First Class E-Learning Large Provider of the Year award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in 2023 and 2024.

All of High Speed Training’s courses meet Continuing Professional Development guidelines and are accredited by the CPD Certification Service. All of their online courses are independently checked and approved by recognised authorities such as CPD, RoSPA, IATP, IIRSM and the Institute of Hospitality.

High Speed Training is officially endorsed by Skills for Care, the strategic body for workforce development in social care in England and a delivery partner for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Skills for Care endorsement is a trusted quality mark only awarded to the best learning and development providers within the social care sector.

In 2024, High Speed Training placed 4th in the Best Education and Training organisations in the UK to work for, 16th in the Yorkshire and Humberside Best Companies to work for and 29th in the Top 50 Best Mid Sized companies to work for in the UK.

For any additional information, interview requests or comments, please contact Daniel.Raymond@highspeedtraining.co.uk, PR & Brand Manager or Kira.Smith@highspeedtraining.co.uk, PR & Content Executive.

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