Bird in Hand food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Somerset
Bird in Hand 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 12 May 2008, more than 18 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: 48-50 Bristol Road, Bridgwater, TA6 4BW
How it compares in Somerset
That puts Bird in Hand among the 4,825 places in Somerset holding top marks, 88% 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 | 4,825 | 88% | ← Bird in Hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 539 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 93 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 26 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 557 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 Bird in Hand 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 Bird in Hand, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Rifles Pub/bar/nightclub | 164 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2025 |
| Bridgwater Self Serve Retailers - other | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2023 |
| Farmfoods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2024 |
| Bridgwater & Albion RFC Pub/bar/nightclub | 357 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Costa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 386 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 July 2023 |
| Cafe @ Activity Warehouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Europe Food Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Bridgwater College School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 May 2026 |
Questions about Bird in Hand
What is Bird in Hand's food hygiene rating?
Bird in Hand has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Somerset Council on 12 May 2008.
Is Bird in Hand 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 Bird in Hand last inspected?
Bird in Hand was last inspected on 12 May 2008, more than 18 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Somerset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bird in Hand?
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 Bird in Hand compare to other places in Somerset?
88% of the 5,514 rated food businesses in Somerset hold the top rating of 5, and Bird in Hand is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Somerset Council inspects Bird in Hand 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 Bird in Hand and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bird in Hand is one of 361 rated food businesses in Bridgwater. See every hygiene rating in Bridgwater →
Somerset inspects and rates 6,071 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Somerset →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.somerset.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 →