The Fox & Hounds food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire
The Fox & Hounds 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 20 February 2026, 4 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: Fox And Hounds High Street, Barley, SG8 8HU
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
That puts The Fox & Hounds 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% | ← The Fox & Hounds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Fox & Hounds 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 Fox & Hounds, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barley C of E School School/college/university | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2019 |
| Barley Post Office & Stores Retailers - other | 257 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 June 2011 |
| Margaret House Caring Premises | 290 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| The Chequers Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 19 March 2025 |
Questions about The Fox & Hounds
What is The Fox & Hounds's food hygiene rating?
The Fox & Hounds has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 20 February 2026.
Is The Fox & Hounds 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 Fox & Hounds last inspected?
The Fox & Hounds was last inspected on 20 February 2026, 4 months 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 The Fox & Hounds?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 The Fox & Hounds 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 The Fox & Hounds is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects The Fox & Hounds 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 Fox & Hounds and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →