5

The Coal Hatch food hygiene rating

Pub/bar/nightclub · Milton Keynes

The Coal Hatch 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 23 January 2023, more than 3 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: 2 Downham Road, Woburn Sands, MK17 8NQ

How it compares in Milton Keynes

That puts The Coal Hatch among the 1,754 places in Milton Keynes holding top marks, 77% 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.

Every rated food business in Milton Keynes
5 out of 5 1,754 77% ← The Coal Hatch
4 out of 5 362 16%
3 out of 5 111 5%
2 out of 5 30 1%
1 out of 5 14 1%
0 out of 5 1 <1%

A further 235 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 Coal Hatch 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 Coal Hatch, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets 46 yards away 5 - Very good 11 March 2016
Pikesley Filling Station Retailers - other 46 yards away 5 - Very good 11 March 2016
Larchfield Nursery Caring Premises 189 yards away 5 - Very good 18 May 2026
Aubergine Fine Foods Retailers - other 195 yards away 5 - Very good 20 August 2024
Ottoman Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 195 yards away 5 - Very good 14 April 2026
Fulbrook Middle School School/college/university 316 yards away 5 - Very good 14 May 2026
Burlington Hall Care Home Caring Premises 317 yards away 5 - Very good 10 April 2026
Devon Lodge Retirement Home Caring Premises 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 13 February 2026

Questions about The Coal Hatch

What is The Coal Hatch's food hygiene rating?

The Coal Hatch has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Milton Keynes Council on 23 January 2023.

Is The Coal Hatch 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 Coal Hatch last inspected?

The Coal Hatch was last inspected on 23 January 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Milton Keynes Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at The Coal Hatch?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Coal Hatch compare to other places in Milton Keynes?

77% of the 2,272 rated food businesses in Milton Keynes hold the top rating of 5, and The Coal Hatch is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Milton Keynes Council inspects The Coal Hatch 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 Coal Hatch 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 Coal Hatch is one of 26 rated food businesses in Woburn Sands. See every hygiene rating in Woburn Sands

Milton Keynes inspects and rates 2,507 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Milton Keynes

The official record is held by the council: http://www.milton-keynes.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 →