5

Molly Malones food hygiene rating

Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire

Molly Malones 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 30 March 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: 117 Nightingale Road, Hitchin, SG5 1RG

How it compares in North Hertfordshire

That puts Molly Malones among the 789 places in North Hertfordshire holding top marks, 78% 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 North Hertfordshire
5 out of 5 789 78% ← Molly Malones
4 out of 5 155 15%
3 out of 5 48 5%
2 out of 5 13 1%
1 out of 5 10 1%
0 out of 5 0 0%

A further 105 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 Molly Malones 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 Molly Malones, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Club 85 Pub/bar/nightclub 182 yards away 5 - Very good 27 September 2011
Asda Express PFS Nightingale Retailers - other 233 yards away 5 - Very good 27 March 2026
Feed up warm up Retailers - other 234 yards away 5 - Very good 15 December 2021
AnX Bar Pub/bar/nightclub 310 yards away 5 - Very good 20 August 2025
Blakes Corner Store (99-100 Ickleford Road) Retailers - other 353 yards away 5 - Very good 23 September 2022
Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop 387 yards away 5 - Very good 27 March 2025
B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - other 390 yards away 5 - Very good 21 November 2018
Bancroft Kiosk Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 421 yards away 5 - Very good 24 May 2023

Questions about Molly Malones

What is Molly Malones's food hygiene rating?

Molly Malones has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 30 March 2023.

Is Molly Malones 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 Molly Malones last inspected?

Molly Malones was last inspected on 30 March 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at Molly Malones?

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 Molly Malones compare to other places in North Hertfordshire?

78% of the 1,015 rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and Molly Malones is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

North Hertfordshire Council inspects Molly Malones 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 Molly Malones and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

Molly Malones is one of 307 rated food businesses in Hitchin. See every hygiene rating in Hitchin

North Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,120 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Hertfordshire

The official record is held by the council: http://www.north-herts.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 →