The Malt Shovel Tavern food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Northamptonshire
The Malt Shovel Tavern holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 28 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 121 Bridge Street, Northampton, Nn1 1qf, NN1 1QF
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
In West Northamptonshire, 78% of rated places manage a 5, so The Malt Shovel Tavern sits behind roughly 2,942 nearby businesses. 8% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,565 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 377 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ← The Malt Shovel Tavern | |
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 44 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Malt Shovel Tavern 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 Malt Shovel Tavern, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2020 |
| Baxterstorey Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 212 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| Angel Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 417 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 September 2024 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2017 |
| Bargain Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2025 |
| Balti Central Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
| 7Bone Burger Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 December 2022 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2025 |
Questions about The Malt Shovel Tavern
What is The Malt Shovel Tavern's food hygiene rating?
The Malt Shovel Tavern has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 28 June 2024.
Is The Malt Shovel Tavern safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was The Malt Shovel Tavern last inspected?
The Malt Shovel Tavern was last inspected on 28 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Malt Shovel Tavern?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Malt Shovel Tavern compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Malt Shovel Tavern holds a 3. 251 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects The Malt Shovel Tavern 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.
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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 Malt Shovel Tavern 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 Malt Shovel Tavern is one of 1,617 rated food businesses in Northampton. See every hygiene rating in Northampton →
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →