Hotel Chocolat food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · North Hertfordshire
Hotel Chocolat 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 12 February 2019, more than 7 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: 117 Bancroft, Hitchin, SG5 1LS
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
That puts Hotel Chocolat 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% | ← Hotel Chocolat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Hotel Chocolat 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 Hotel Chocolat, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAIL's Hitchin Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2024 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2025 |
| Craft & Cleaver Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| Farm Fresh Retailers - other | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2026 |
| Hermitage Rd Bar and Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Ali Baba Kebab House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 September 2025 |
| Cafe Seventy Seven Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2025 |
| Chicken George Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2026 |
Questions about Hotel Chocolat
What is Hotel Chocolat's food hygiene rating?
Hotel Chocolat has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 12 February 2019.
Is Hotel Chocolat 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 Hotel Chocolat last inspected?
Hotel Chocolat was last inspected on 12 February 2019, more than 7 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 Hotel Chocolat?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Hotel Chocolat 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 Hotel Chocolat is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects Hotel Chocolat 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 Hotel Chocolat and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Hotel Chocolat 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 →