The Countryman Tea Rooms food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · East Hertfordshire
The Countryman Tea Rooms holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 11 May 2024, more than 2 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 Countryman, A10 Through Chipping Village, Chipping, SG9 0PG
How it compares in East Hertfordshire
That puts The Countryman Tea Rooms among the 977 places in East Hertfordshire holding top marks, 84% 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 | 977 | 84% | ← The Countryman Tea Rooms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 146 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 30 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 221 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 Countryman Tea Rooms 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 Countryman Tea Rooms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodview Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | Exempt | |
| The Milling Barn Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2025 |
| The Shell Shack Retailers - other | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2025 |
| Freman College School/college/university | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| Buntingford Bowls Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| Edwinstree Middle School School/college/university | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Sainsbury's Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 April 2024 |
| M Doel Retailers - other | 1.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 12 June 2025 |
Questions about The Countryman Tea Rooms
What is The Countryman Tea Rooms's food hygiene rating?
The Countryman Tea Rooms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Hertfordshire Council on 11 May 2024.
Is The Countryman Tea Rooms 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Countryman Tea Rooms last inspected?
The Countryman Tea Rooms was last inspected on 11 May 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Countryman Tea Rooms?
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 Countryman Tea Rooms compare to other places in East Hertfordshire?
84% of the 1,168 rated food businesses in East Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Countryman Tea Rooms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Hertfordshire Council inspects The Countryman Tea Rooms 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 Countryman Tea Rooms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
East Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,389 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastherts.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 →