The Bear food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bedford
The Bear 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 1 June 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: The Bear 92 High Street, Bedford, MK40 1NN
How it compares in Bedford
That puts The Bear among the 1,208 places in Bedford holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,208 | 83% | ← The Bear | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 164 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 72 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 190 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety 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 Bear 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 Bear, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 St Peters Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 66 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2025 |
| Bedford Cat Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2025 |
| Arcadia Retailers - other | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2023 |
| Carumbar UK Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 126 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2024 |
| Amici Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 174 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2024 |
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Caffe Crema Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 221 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2026 |
| Astons Pub/bar/nightclub | 250 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2021 |
Questions about The Bear
What is The Bear's food hygiene rating?
The Bear has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bedford Council on 1 June 2023.
Is The Bear 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 Bear last inspected?
The Bear was last inspected on 1 June 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bedford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bear?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Bear compare to other places in Bedford?
83% of the 1,460 rated food businesses in Bedford hold the top rating of 5, and The Bear is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bedford Council inspects The Bear 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 Bear 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
Bedford inspects and rates 1,650 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bedford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bedford.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 →