The Cap food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · South Norfolk
The Cap 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 18 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: Cardinals Hat, 23 The Thoroughfare, Harleston, IP20 9AS
How it compares in South Norfolk
That puts The Cap among the 823 places in South Norfolk holding top marks, 84% 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 | 823 | 84% | ← The Cap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 100 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 39 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 123 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 Cap 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 Cap, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| D A Browne & Son Ltd Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2026 |
| Soul Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2024 |
| Corner Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 10 March 2025 |
| Hungry Cat Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 13 August 2025 |
| Swan Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | at this address | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 9 March 2026 |
| The Green Cupboard Ltd Retailers - other | 23 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 November 2020 |
| A Taste Of Raj Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2024 |
| Full Moon Takeaway/sandwich shop | 32 yards away | 4 - Good | 4 December 2025 |
Questions about The Cap
What is The Cap's food hygiene rating?
The Cap has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Norfolk Council on 18 February 2026.
Is The Cap 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 Cap last inspected?
The Cap was last inspected on 18 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Norfolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Cap?
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 Cap compare to other places in South Norfolk?
84% of the 980 rated food businesses in South Norfolk hold the top rating of 5, and The Cap is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Norfolk Council inspects The Cap 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 Cap and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Cap is one of 43 rated food businesses in Harleston. See every hygiene rating in Harleston →
South Norfolk inspects and rates 1,103 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Norfolk →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.southnorfolkandbroadland.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 →