Fox and Duck food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire
Fox and Duck holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This rating dates from 26 June 2025, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: Fox And Duck Police Row, Therfield, SG8 9PN
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
A 1 is rare: only 10 of 1,015 rated places in North Hertfordshire score this low, about one in 102. By contrast 78% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 789 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 155 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 48 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ← Fox and Duck | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 105 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 Major improvement necessary
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 Fox and Duck the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. 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 Fox and Duck, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Therfield Village Pre-School Caring Premises | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2007 |
| Therfield First School School/college/university | 213 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2026 |
| Silver Ball Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2024 |
| Buntingford Brewery Manufacturers/packers | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2026 |
| Reed First School School/college/university | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2025 |
| Cucina Italiano and Cucina italiano limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2025 |
| Sandon Estate Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 February 2023 |
| McDonalds Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2025 |
Questions about Fox and Duck
What is Fox and Duck's food hygiene rating?
Fox and Duck has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 26 June 2025.
Is Fox and Duck safe to eat at?
A 1 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 Fox and Duck last inspected?
Fox and Duck was last inspected on 26 June 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Fox and Duck?
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 "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Fox and Duck compare to other places in North Hertfordshire?
78% of the 1,015 rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, while Fox and Duck holds a 1. 10 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects Fox and Duck 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 Fox and Duck 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 1 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 North Hertfordshire, 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: North Hertfordshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
North Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,120 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.north-herts.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 →