The Hop Tap food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Dacorum
The Hop Tap 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 8 October 2025, 9 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: 31-32 The Square, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1EP
How it compares in Dacorum
That puts The Hop Tap among the 864 places in Dacorum 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 | 864 | 77% | ← The Hop Tap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 192 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 55 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 137 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Hop Tap 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 Hop Tap, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banana Leaf Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 January 2024 |
| Copper Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 April 2024 |
| Creams Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 113 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Big Juicy Burgers Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 139 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 December 2025 |
| Carlss Express (Londis) Retailers - other | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 April 2023 |
| Chicken Cottage Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2024 |
| ASDA Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
Questions about The Hop Tap
What is The Hop Tap's food hygiene rating?
The Hop Tap has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dacorum Council on 8 October 2025.
Is The Hop Tap 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 Hop Tap last inspected?
The Hop Tap was last inspected on 8 October 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dacorum Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Hop Tap?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Hop Tap compare to other places in Dacorum?
77% of the 1,123 rated food businesses in Dacorum hold the top rating of 5, and The Hop Tap is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dacorum Council inspects The Hop Tap 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 Hop Tap 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 Hop Tap is one of 634 rated food businesses in Hemel Hempstead. See every hygiene rating in Hemel Hempstead →
Dacorum inspects and rates 1,260 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dacorum →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dacorum.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 →