The Ruby food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · West Northamptonshire
The Ruby holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the takeaway are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 12 February 2025, 16 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: 18/20 Cotton End, Northampton, Nn4 8bs, NN4 8BS
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
In West Northamptonshire, 78% of rated places manage a 5, so The Ruby sits behind roughly 2,565 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,565 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 377 | 11% | ← The Ruby | |
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 44 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 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 Good
- 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 Ruby 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 Ruby, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 153 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2017 |
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 232 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2020 |
| Baxterstorey Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 377 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| Angel Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 September 2024 |
| Balti Central Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
| Bargain Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2025 |
| 7Bone Burger Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 December 2022 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2025 |
Questions about The Ruby
What is The Ruby's food hygiene rating?
The Ruby has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 12 February 2025.
Is The Ruby safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this takeaway to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Ruby last inspected?
The Ruby was last inspected on 12 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ruby?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", 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 Ruby compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Ruby holds a 4. 377 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects The Ruby 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 Ruby and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Ruby is one of 1,617 rated food businesses in Northampton. See every hygiene rating in Northampton →
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →