A RESTAURANT has received a five star food hygiene rating.

High House Barn in Matfen has received a five star food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency.

The Food Standards Agency rating covers how food is handled, prepared, stored, the cleanliness of facilities, and how food safety is managed.

The rating is the businesses' first inspection and means the business has very high standards of food handling and preparation, and is fully compliant with the law.

The hygiene rating scheme does not provide information on factors including the quality of food, customer service, culinary skill, presentation of food, or comfort.

A food safety officer checks how hygienically food is handled in preparation and storage. The physical condition of the business is also checked to ensure cleanliness, good lighting, ventilation and pest control. How they keep their food safe is also checked, and all three factors influence the overall rating given.

In a Facebook post, the restaurant said: "We take our food handling, storage, preparation, cleanliness and safety extremely seriously at High House Barn and achieving the top rating is testament to our whole team and the work everyone puts in to keep our standards at the highest level."

High House Barn encompasses the events venue, the craft brewery, bar, restaurant and glamping situated on High House Farm, a traditional working Northumbrian farm.