The Shamrock food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Watford
The Shamrock holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 14 April 2025, 15 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: 510 Whippendell Road, Watford, WD18 7QJ
How it compares in Watford
A 2 is rare: only 5 of 856 rated places in Watford score this low, about one in 171. By contrast 80% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 687 | 80% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 118 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ← The Shamrock | |
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 141 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Shamrock the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Shamrock, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascot Road Community Free School School/college/university | 412 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2025 |
| Bmt Catering Ltd @ Storm Technologies Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2026 |
| Aramark @ Watford Grammar School For Boys School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2025 |
| BloomsYard Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2022 |
| Aspens Services Ltd @ Willow Tree Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
| Amberside Care Home Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2025 |
| Aspens Services Ltd @ Laurence Haines School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2024 |
| 2 Madrasi Mobile caterer | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2026 |
Questions about The Shamrock
What is The Shamrock's food hygiene rating?
The Shamrock has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Watford Council on 14 April 2025.
Is The Shamrock safe to eat at?
A 2 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 Shamrock last inspected?
The Shamrock was last inspected on 14 April 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Watford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Shamrock?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Shamrock compare to other places in Watford?
80% of the 856 rated food businesses in Watford hold the top rating of 5, while The Shamrock holds a 2. 5 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Watford Council inspects The Shamrock 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 Shamrock 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 2 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 Watford, 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: Watford
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Watford inspects and rates 997 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Watford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.watford.gov.uk/foodhygieneratings
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 →