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Castle John's Pub & Restaurant

789 King Ave, Newcastle ON L1B 1K8 · Food Safety Inspections

Official record from Durham Region →

Inspection summary

Castle John's Pub & Restaurant has been inspected 7 times by Durham Region Health Department since November 6, 2024. The most recent inspection, on August 17, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

1 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 8 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Chemicals and toxic substances, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 17, 2026. For example: Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 11, 2026. For example: Food contact surfaces washed / rinsed / sanitized after each use and following any operations when contamination may have occurred

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on December 2, 2025. For example: Food protected from potential contamination and/or adulteration

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 25, 2025. For example: Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded once on February 11, 2026. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of hot and cold water, soap in a dispenser and single-use towels

About this data

These results come from Durham Region Health Department, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

7 inspections

  1. Routine

    3 infractions

    • Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
      • * Fail to maintain utensils, multi-service articles and/or food contact surfaces in a clean and sanitary manner and/or in good repair
      • Operator to ensure all food contact surfaces, utensils and/or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized after each use and are maintained in good repair
    • Equipment, non-food contact surfaces and linen are maintained, designed, constructed, installed and accessible for cleaning
      • * Fail to maintain all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are in clean and in good repair
      • * Fail to maintain all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are of sound and tight construction
      • Operator to ensure that all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are maintained clean and in good repair
      • Operator to ensure that all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are readily cleanable/non-absorbent and of sound and tight construction.
    • Floors clean and in good repair
      • * Fail to ensure floors of food premise are kept clean and/or in good repair
      • Operator to ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
  2. Routine

    2 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of hot and cold water, soap in a dispenser and single-use towels
      • * Fail to provide adequate supplies (single-use towels, soap in a dispenser) for the hand washing basin in the food preparation area
      • Operator to ensure hand washing basins are adequately supplied
    • Food contact surfaces washed / rinsed / sanitized after each use and following any operations when contamination may have occurred
      • * Fail to wash, rinse and sanitize equipment / utensils after each use or as often as necessary
      • Operator to ensure all food contact surfaces are properly cleaned & sanitized
  3. Routine

    3 infractions

    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • * Fail to use basin only for hand washing of employees
      • Operator to ensure designated hand washing basin is only used for hand washing
    • Food protected from potential contamination and/or adulteration
      • * Observed potentially hazardous food not covered to prevent contamination / adulteration
      • Operator to ensure all foods are covered in storage
      • Operator to ensure all foods are stored off the floor
    • Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
      • * Fail to maintain utensils, multi-service articles and/or food contact surfaces in a clean and sanitary manner and/or in good repair
      • Operator to ensure all food contact surfaces, utensils and/or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized after each use and are maintained in good repair
  4. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Food protected from potential contamination and/or adulteration
      • * Observed potentially hazardous food not covered to prevent contamination / adulteration
      • Operator to ensure all foods are covered in storage
    • Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
      • * Fail to maintain utensils, multi-service articles and/or food contact surfaces in a clean and sanitary manner and/or in good repair
      • Operator to ensure all food contact surfaces, utensils and/or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized after each use and are maintained in good repair
    • Equipment, non-food contact surfaces and linen are maintained, designed, constructed, installed and accessible for cleaning
      • * Fail to maintain all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are in clean and in good repair
      • Operator to ensure that all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are maintained clean and in good repair
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • * Fail to provide sufficient detergent, chemicals, or required water temperatures for washing and sanitizing
      • Iodine concentration must be at least 25 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
      • Operator to ensure utensils are manually sanitized after each mechanical wash cycle
      • Operator to ensure mechanical dishwasher is maintained in good repair
  5. Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  6. Routine & Complaint

    4 infractions

    • Thermometers used to verify food preparation and storage temperatures
      • * Fail to provide thermometer in temperature controlled room / equipment used to store potentially hazardous foods
      • Operator to provide accurate and easily readable indicating thermometers in temperature controlled rooms/equipment used for storage of potentially hazardous foods
    • Food protected from potential contamination and/or adulteration
      • * Observed potentially hazardous food not covered to prevent contamination / adulteration
      • Operator to ensure all foods are covered in storage
    • Equipment, non-food contact surfaces and linen are maintained, designed, constructed, installed and accessible for cleaning
      • * Fail to maintain all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are in clean and in good repair
      • Operator to ensure that all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are maintained clean and in good repair
    • Food contact surfaces washed / rinsed / sanitized after each use and following any operations when contamination may have occurred
      • * Fail to ensure sanitizing solution contains the appropriate type of chemical solution and/or concentration/strength of sanitizer
      • Operator to ensure sanitizing solution contain the appropriate type of chemical solution and/or concentration/strength for sanitizing
  7. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Food is prepared in a safe manner
      • Observed potentially hazardous foods not being thawed in an appropriate and safe manner
    • Food contact surfaces washed / rinsed / sanitized after each use and following any operations when contamination may have occurred
      • * Fail to ensure food contact surfaces are cleaned & sanitized after each use or as often as necessary
      • Operator to ensure sanitizing solution contain the appropriate type of chemical solution and/or concentration/strength for sanitizing
    • Floors clean and in good repair
      • * Fail to ensure floor of dishwashing area kept clean and in good repair
      • Operator to ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
    • Mechanical ventilation operable where required
      • * Fail to maintain ventilation system in manner to eliminate odours, fumes, vapors, smoke and excessive heat
      • Operator to ensure ventilation system is maintained in a clean and sanitary manner eliminating odours, fumes, vapors, smoke and excessive heat

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