Southall Butchers food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Bedford
Southall Butchers holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 10 December 2025, 7 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Home Farm Bedford Road, Great Barford, MK44 3JF
How it compares in Bedford
That puts Southall Butchers among the 1,208 places in Bedford holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,208 | 83% | ← Southall Butchers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 164 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 72 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 190 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety 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 Southall Butchers 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 Southall Butchers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Barford fish and chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 197 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
| Great Barford Store Retailers - other | 202 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 April 2019 |
| Katmandu Kitchen Takeaway/sandwich shop | 206 yards away | 4 - Good | 14 January 2026 |
| Golden Cross Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 332 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
| Great Barford Stores Ltd Retailers - other | 396 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2015 |
| Aspens at Great Barford Primary School School/college/university | 398 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
| The Anchor Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 9 June 2025 |
Questions about Southall Butchers
What is Southall Butchers's food hygiene rating?
Southall Butchers has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bedford Council on 10 December 2025.
Is Southall Butchers 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Southall Butchers last inspected?
Southall Butchers was last inspected on 10 December 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bedford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Southall Butchers?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Southall Butchers compare to other places in Bedford?
83% of the 1,460 rated food businesses in Bedford hold the top rating of 5, and Southall Butchers is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bedford Council inspects Southall Butchers 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 Southall Butchers and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bedford inspects and rates 1,650 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bedford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bedford.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 →