The Smokey Cow food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Shropshire
The Smokey Cow 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 9 December 2025, 7 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: Seven Stars Madeley Road, Beckbury, Shifnal, TF11 9DN
How it compares in Shropshire
That puts The Smokey Cow among the 2,512 places in Shropshire 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 | 2,512 | 88% | ← The Smokey Cow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 223 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 86 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 249 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 The Smokey Cow 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 Smokey Cow, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterpillars Childcare Caring Premises | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| Hundred House Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Stockton House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 2.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
| Tracy's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Chesterton Valley Golf Club Retailers - other | 2.8 miles away | 4 - Good | 11 March 2026 |
| Church Farm B & B Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 2.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| The Masons Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.8 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 25 March 2026 |
| HW Chatham & Co Manufacturers/packers | 2.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
Questions about The Smokey Cow
What is The Smokey Cow's food hygiene rating?
The Smokey Cow has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Shropshire Council on 9 December 2025.
Is The Smokey Cow 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 Smokey Cow last inspected?
The Smokey Cow was last inspected on 9 December 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Shropshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Smokey Cow?
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 The Smokey Cow compare to other places in Shropshire?
88% of the 2,862 rated food businesses in Shropshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Smokey Cow is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Shropshire Council inspects The Smokey Cow 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 Smokey Cow and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Smokey Cow is one of 74 rated food businesses in Shifnal. See every hygiene rating in Shifnal →
Shropshire inspects and rates 3,111 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Shropshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/foodhygienescheme
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 →