The Plough food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Elmbridge
The Plough holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Plough was inspected on 20 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 4% of rated food businesses in Elmbridge score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Elmbridge ratings →
Address: The Plough Public House, Plough Lane, Downside, KT11 3LT
How this rating has changed
The Plough has gone backwards: it held a 5 before its inspection on 20 July 2026, and now holds a 2. A rating of 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 20 July 2026 | 5 2 | Worse |
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 Elmbridge
A 2 is rare: only 23 of 981 rated places in Elmbridge score this low, about one in 43. By contrast 76% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 743 | 76% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 136 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 57 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ← The Plough | |
| 1 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 133 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and the condition of the premises. 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 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 |
| 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 |
| Billytong Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2024 |
Questions about The Plough
What is The Plough's food hygiene rating?
The Plough has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Elmbridge Council on 20 July 2026.
Is The Plough safe to eat at?
A 2 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 The Plough last inspected?
The Plough was last inspected on 20 July 2026, a month 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 "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Plough compare to other places in Elmbridge?
76% of the 981 rated food businesses in Elmbridge hold the top rating of 5, while The Plough holds a 2. 23 places in the area share that rating.
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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 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 Elmbridge, 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: Elmbridge
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Plough is one of 116 rated food businesses in Cobham. See every hygiene rating in Cobham →
Elmbridge inspects and rates 1,114 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 →