Bird In Hand food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Dartford
Bird In Hand 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 20 November 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 242 Dartford Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 3EY
How it compares in Dartford
That puts Bird In Hand among the 713 places in Dartford holding top marks, 77% 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 | 713 | 77% | ← Bird In Hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 131 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 53 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 153 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 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 Bird In Hand 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 Bird In Hand, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broomhill Playgroup Caring Premises | 299 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 July 2023 |
| Britannia Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 353 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| Blue Star Express Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2026 |
| Bexley Drinks And Food Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 January 2024 |
| Boots The Chemist Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2024 |
| Burnham Premier Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2024 |
| Bear & Ragged Staff Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2025 |
Questions about Bird In Hand
What is Bird In Hand's food hygiene rating?
Bird In Hand has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dartford Council on 20 November 2024.
Is Bird In Hand 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 Bird In Hand last inspected?
Bird In Hand was last inspected on 20 November 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dartford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bird In Hand?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Bird In Hand compare to other places in Dartford?
77% of the 923 rated food businesses in Dartford hold the top rating of 5, and Bird In Hand is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dartford Council inspects Bird In Hand 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 Bird In Hand and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Dartford inspects and rates 1,076 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dartford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dartford.gov.uk/foodsafety/index.htm
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 →