The Cross Keys food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bedford
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 30 October 2025, 8 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: The Cross Keys 2 Tithe Road, Kempston, MK43 9BE
How it compares in Bedford
That puts The Cross Keys 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% | ← The Cross Keys | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox & Duck Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2018 |
| Maypole Farm Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Kempston Hammers Sports & Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2018 |
| BPHA Caring Premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 January 2025 |
| Brewers Fayre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2025 |
| Pauls Supermarket Retailers - other | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2016 |
| McKenzie Butchers Retailers - other | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 September 2023 |
| Luci & Lina's Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
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 Bedford Council on 30 October 2025.
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 30 October 2025, 8 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 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 Bedford?
83% of the 1,460 rated food businesses in Bedford hold the top rating of 5, and The Cross Keys is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bedford 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.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Cross Keys is one of 137 rated food businesses in Kempston. See every hygiene rating in Kempston →
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 →