The Half Moon food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire
The Half Moon holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 8 September 2023, more than 2 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: The Half Moon 57 Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 9TZ
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
That puts The Half Moon among the 789 places in North Hertfordshire holding top marks, 78% 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 | 789 | 78% | ← The Half Moon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 155 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 48 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 105 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 Half Moon 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 Half Moon, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Rescue Hub CIC Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2022 |
| BB's Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 April 2024 |
| Asda Supermarket Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| Angel Vaults Pub/bar/nightclub | 228 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Bosphorus Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 234 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Four Leaf Clover Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 234 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Hot Wok Chinese Kitchen Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2026 |
| Hitchin Coffee Lab Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 256 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
Questions about The Half Moon
What is The Half Moon's food hygiene rating?
The Half Moon has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 8 September 2023.
Is The Half Moon 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Half Moon last inspected?
The Half Moon was last inspected on 8 September 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Half Moon?
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 Half Moon compare to other places in North Hertfordshire?
78% of the 1,015 rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Half Moon is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects The Half Moon 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 Half Moon and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Half Moon is one of 307 rated food businesses in Hitchin. See every hygiene rating in Hitchin →
North Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,120 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.north-herts.gov.uk
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 →