The Bell cotton end food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bedford
The Bell cotton end 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 3 November 2025, 8 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: 4 Bell Lane, Cotton End, MK45 3AD
How it compares in Bedford
That puts The Bell cotton end among the 1,208 places in Bedford holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,208 | 83% | ← The Bell cotton end | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 164 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 72 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 190 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 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 Bell cotton end 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 Bell cotton end, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| JK Superstore Limited Retailers - other | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2022 |
| Shortstown Foodbar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 22 January 2026 |
| The Hangar Cafe And Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| Tesco Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 21 November 2019 |
| Superfood Explorer Importers/Exporters | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2025 |
| Organic The Best Retailers - other | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2017 |
| Kings Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2024 |
| Wilstead Post Office Retailers - other | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 July 2016 |
Questions about The Bell cotton end
What is The Bell cotton end's food hygiene rating?
The Bell cotton end has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bedford Council on 3 November 2025.
Is The Bell cotton end 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 Bell cotton end last inspected?
The Bell cotton end was last inspected on 3 November 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bedford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bell cotton end?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Bell cotton end compare to other places in Bedford?
83% of the 1,460 rated food businesses in Bedford hold the top rating of 5, and The Bell cotton end is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bedford Council inspects The Bell cotton end 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 Bell cotton end and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bedford inspects and rates 1,650 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bedford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bedford.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 →