The Cross Keys food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Uttlesford
The Cross Keys 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 15 August 2024, 22 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Cross Keys, 32 High Street, Saffron Walden, CB10 1AX
How it compares in Uttlesford
That puts The Cross Keys among the 583 places in Uttlesford holding top marks, 90% 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 | 583 | 90% | ← The Cross Keys | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 43 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 13 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 159 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 Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cozy Bistro And Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| The Mogul Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 56 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2024 |
| New World Wine Retailers - other | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 July 2025 |
| Cook Retailers - other | 81 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2026 |
| Costcutters Retailers - other | 82 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2024 |
| Otte Svaner Retailers - other | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
| Cafe Cou Cou Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Gilbey Butchers Retailers - other | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2024 |
Questions about The Cross Keys
What is The Cross Keys's food hygiene rating?
The Cross Keys has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Uttlesford Council on 15 August 2024.
Is The Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys last inspected?
The Cross Keys was last inspected on 15 August 2024, 22 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Uttlesford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Cross Keys?
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 Cross Keys compare to other places in Uttlesford?
90% of the 650 rated food businesses in Uttlesford hold the top rating of 5, and The Cross Keys is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Uttlesford Council inspects The Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys is one of 212 rated food businesses in Saffron Walden. See every hygiene rating in Saffron Walden →
Uttlesford inspects and rates 809 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Uttlesford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.uttlesford.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 →