The Shell Shack food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · East Hertfordshire
The Shell Shack holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 15 January 2025, 18 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: 7 Vicarage Road, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 9BE
How it compares in East Hertfordshire
That puts The Shell Shack 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 Shell Shack | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 222 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 Shell Shack 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 Shell Shack, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buntingford Bowls Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 280 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| Freman College School/college/university | 283 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| Sainsbury's Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 370 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 April 2024 |
| M Doel Retailers - other | 370 yards away | 4 - Good | 12 June 2025 |
| The Buntingford Coffee Shop Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 370 yards away | 4 - Good | 15 May 2025 |
| The Chippy Takeaway/sandwich shop | 370 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Edwinstree Middle School School/college/university | 398 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Buntingford And District Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2008 |
Questions about The Shell Shack
What is The Shell Shack's food hygiene rating?
The Shell Shack has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Hertfordshire Council on 15 January 2025.
Is The Shell Shack 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Shell Shack last inspected?
The Shell Shack was last inspected on 15 January 2025, 18 months 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 Shell Shack?
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 Shell Shack 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 Shell Shack is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Hertfordshire Council inspects The Shell Shack 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 Shell Shack 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 Shell Shack is one of 61 rated food businesses in Buntingford. See every hygiene rating in Buntingford →
East Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,390 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 →