Brown Cow Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Lancaster City
Brown Cow Inn 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 11 February 2026, 5 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 Brown Cow, 42-44 Penny Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XF
How it compares in Lancaster City
That puts Brown Cow Inn among the 865 places in Lancaster City holding top marks, 79% 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 | 865 | 79% | ← Brown Cow Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 172 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 44 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 65 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 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 Brown Cow Inn 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 Brown Cow Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Mini Market Retailers - other | 27 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2024 |
| Baked By Brew Limited Retailers - other | 41 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2024 |
| Full House Noodle Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 June 2026 |
| Dice and Decks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2026 |
| American Sweet Retailers - other | 111 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
| Bob and Berts Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 144 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2024 |
| Ado's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
| Aquila Neapolitan Wood Fired Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2025 |
Questions about Brown Cow Inn
What is Brown Cow Inn's food hygiene rating?
Brown Cow Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Lancaster City Council on 11 February 2026.
Is Brown Cow Inn 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 Brown Cow Inn last inspected?
Brown Cow Inn was last inspected on 11 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lancaster City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Brown Cow Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Brown Cow Inn compare to other places in Lancaster City?
79% of the 1,100 rated food businesses in Lancaster City hold the top rating of 5, and Brown Cow Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Lancaster City Council inspects Brown Cow Inn 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 Brown Cow Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Lancaster City inspects and rates 1,165 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lancaster City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/foodratings
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 →