The Plough food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Elmbridge
The Plough 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 18 July 2025, 11 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: The Plough Public House, Plough Lane, Downside, KT11 3LT
How it compares in Elmbridge
That puts The Plough among the 757 places in Elmbridge 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 | 757 | 77% | ← The Plough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 128 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 61 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 127 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 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 Plough 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 Plough, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bear Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2025 |
| At Home Catering Ltd Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2024 |
| Energetic Health Ltd Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2023 |
| Holland and Barrett Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Pret a Manger Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2026 |
| Farrants Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| The Bakery Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
Questions about The Plough
What is The Plough's food hygiene rating?
The Plough has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Elmbridge Council on 18 July 2025.
Is The Plough 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 The Plough last inspected?
The Plough was last inspected on 18 July 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Elmbridge Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Plough?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Plough compare to other places in Elmbridge?
77% of the 988 rated food businesses in Elmbridge hold the top rating of 5, and The Plough is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Elmbridge Council inspects The Plough 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 Plough and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Plough is one of 113 rated food businesses in Cobham. See every hygiene rating in Cobham →
Elmbridge inspects and rates 1,115 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Elmbridge →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/food
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 →