The Prince Albert food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Sandwell
The Prince Albert holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 21 June 2025, 12 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: The Prince Albert 101 Sams Lane, West Bromwich, B70 7EG
How it compares in Sandwell
A 1 is rare: only 56 of 2,350 rated places in Sandwell score this low, about one in 42. By contrast 66% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,561 | 66% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 513 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 168 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 41 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 56 | 2% | ← The Prince Albert | |
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | <1% |
A further 326 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Prince Albert the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Prince Albert, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Place to Taste Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2025 |
| Bethel Convention Centre Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2023 |
| Biedronka Polski Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2025 |
| Admiral Casino Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 November 2024 |
| Angels Gentlemens Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2020 |
| Bibiana Conference Hall Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2024 |
| ARTs Catering Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
Questions about The Prince Albert
What is The Prince Albert's food hygiene rating?
The Prince Albert has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Sandwell Council on 21 June 2025.
Is The Prince Albert safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Prince Albert last inspected?
The Prince Albert was last inspected on 21 June 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sandwell Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Prince Albert?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Prince Albert compare to other places in Sandwell?
66% of the 2,350 rated food businesses in Sandwell hold the top rating of 5, while The Prince Albert holds a 1. 56 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Sandwell Council inspects The Prince Albert 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 Prince Albert 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Sandwell, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Sandwell
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Prince Albert is one of 512 rated food businesses in West Bromwich. See every hygiene rating in West Bromwich →
Sandwell inspects and rates 2,676 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sandwell →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/foodratings
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 →