The Cafe In The Library food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Watford
The Cafe In The Library holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 24 November 2017, more than 8 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Watford Central Library, Hempstead Road, Watford, WD17 3EU
How it compares in Watford
That puts The Cafe In The Library among the 687 places in Watford holding top marks, 80% 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 | 687 | 80% | ← The Cafe In The Library | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 118 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 141 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 The Cafe In The Library 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 The Cafe In The Library, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aramark Ltd @ West Herts College Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 224 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 February 2026 |
| Best One Retailers - other | 408 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2018 |
| Alli Bhavan Deli Takeaway/sandwich shop | 410 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
| Bombay Classic Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 410 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| Bubble Croffle Other catering premises | 410 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2025 |
| Bla Bla Café Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| Asia Village Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Bee Zee Health & Beauty Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2021 |
Questions about The Cafe In The Library
What is The Cafe In The Library's food hygiene rating?
The Cafe In The Library has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Watford Council on 24 November 2017.
Is The Cafe In The Library 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Cafe In The Library last inspected?
The Cafe In The Library was last inspected on 24 November 2017, more than 8 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Watford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Cafe In The Library?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 The Cafe In The Library compare to other places in Watford?
80% of the 856 rated food businesses in Watford hold the top rating of 5, and The Cafe In The Library is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Watford Council inspects The Cafe In The Library 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 The Cafe In The Library and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Watford inspects and rates 997 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Watford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.watford.gov.uk/foodhygieneratings
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 →