Good Companion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Hertsmere
Good Companion holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 18 June 2026, 2 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.
Only 3% of rated food businesses in Hertsmere score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Hertsmere ratings →
Address: 133 - 135 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 1AH
How this rating has changed
Good Companion was re-inspected on 18 June 2026 and held its rating of 1.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 18 June 2026 | 1 1 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Hertsmere
A 1 is rare: only 14 of 746 rated places in Hertsmere score this low, about one in 53. 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 | 600 | 80% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 93 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 32 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 14 | 2% | ← Good Companion | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 96 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 Major improvement necessary
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 Good Companion the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. 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 Good Companion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creams Dessert Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 29 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
| Eggfree CakeBox Retailers - other | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 August 2026 |
| Barracuda Other catering premises | 110 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2026 |
| Daisy Express Retailers - other | 119 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| Ben And Ollie's Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 162 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Baxter Storey UK Other catering premises | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 238 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2026 |
| Costa Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 252 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
Questions about Good Companion
What is Good Companion's food hygiene rating?
Good Companion has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Hertsmere Council on 18 June 2026.
Is Good Companion safe to eat at?
A 1 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 Good Companion last inspected?
Good Companion was last inspected on 18 June 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Hertsmere Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Good Companion?
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 "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Good Companion compare to other places in Hertsmere?
80% of the 746 rated food businesses in Hertsmere hold the top rating of 5, while Good Companion holds a 1. 14 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Hertsmere Council inspects Good Companion 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 Good Companion and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Is this your business?
A rating of 1 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 Hertsmere, 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: Hertsmere
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Good Companion is one of 243 rated food businesses in Borehamwood. See every hygiene rating in Borehamwood →
Hertsmere inspects and rates 842 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Hertsmere →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.hertsmere.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 →