The Ship Aground food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Stafford
The Ship Aground 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 March 2026, 3 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: 3-4 Lichfield Road, Stafford, ST17 4JX
How it compares in Stafford
That puts The Ship Aground among the 778 places in Stafford holding top marks, 80% 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 | 778 | 80% | ← The Ship Aground | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 139 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 38 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 158 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 Very 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 Ship Aground 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 Ship Aground, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Pub/bar/nightclub | 28 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 July 2023 |
| Admiral Retailers - other | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2025 |
| Ali's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2026 |
| Coach and Horses Pub/bar/nightclub | 154 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2025 |
| Boutique Events Staffordshire Ltd Other catering premises | 189 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2024 |
| Basmati Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 195 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2026 |
| Coffee#1 Retailers - other | 216 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2026 |
Questions about The Ship Aground
What is The Ship Aground's food hygiene rating?
The Ship Aground has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Stafford Council on 18 March 2026.
Is The Ship Aground 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 Ship Aground last inspected?
The Ship Aground was last inspected on 18 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stafford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ship Aground?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Ship Aground compare to other places in Stafford?
80% of the 976 rated food businesses in Stafford hold the top rating of 5, and The Ship Aground is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Stafford Council inspects The Ship Aground 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 Ship Aground and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Stafford inspects and rates 1,134 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stafford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.staffordbc.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 →