The Polecat Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Buckinghamshire
The Polecat Inn 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 10 February 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.
94% of rated food businesses in Buckinghamshire score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Buckinghamshire ratings →
Address: The Polecat Public House, 170 Wycombe Road, Prestwood, HP16 0HJ
How it compares in Buckinghamshire
That puts The Polecat Inn among the 3,260 places in Buckinghamshire holding top marks, 81% 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 | 3,260 | 81% | ← The Polecat Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 537 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 166 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 43 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 32 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 542 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 Polecat Inn 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 Polecat Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Limes Tea Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 66 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2025 |
| Flower Pots Day Nursery Prestwood Caring Premises | 282 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2026 |
| Peterley Manor Farm Shop Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2025 |
| The Barn Kitchen at Peterley Manor Farm Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
| The Shepherd's Hut Outdoor Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Chiltern Way Academy School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2025 |
| Crown Convenience Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2014 |
| Cater Link at Prestwood Junior School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
Questions about The Polecat Inn
What is The Polecat Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Polecat Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Buckinghamshire Council on 10 February 2025.
Is The Polecat Inn 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 Polecat Inn last inspected?
The Polecat Inn was last inspected on 10 February 2025, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Buckinghamshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Polecat Inn?
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 Polecat Inn compare to other places in Buckinghamshire?
81% of the 4,041 rated food businesses in Buckinghamshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Polecat Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Buckinghamshire Council inspects The Polecat Inn 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 Polecat Inn 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 Polecat Inn is one of 23 rated food businesses in Prestwood. See every hygiene rating in Prestwood →
Buckinghamshire inspects and rates 4,583 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Buckinghamshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.buckinghamshire.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 →