The Plough food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · St Albans City
The Plough 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 17 November 2025, 7 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: Sleapshyde, Smallford, St Albans, AL4 0SE
How it compares in St Albans City
That puts The Plough among the 818 places in St Albans City 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 | 818 | 77% | ← The Plough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 157 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 63 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 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 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 Plough 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 Plough, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colney Heath News Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| Cafe Rore Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2025 |
| Forum Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 October 2023 |
| College Lane Premier Shop Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2026 |
| Cafe Pausa @ Dunelm Mill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| De Havilland Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2024 |
| Cafe Sport Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Cafe Ambition Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2024 |
Questions about The Plough
What is The Plough's food hygiene rating?
The Plough has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by St Albans City Council on 17 November 2025.
Is The Plough 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 Plough last inspected?
The Plough was last inspected on 17 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by St Albans City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Plough?
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 Plough compare to other places in St Albans City?
77% of the 1,058 rated food businesses in St Albans City hold the top rating of 5, and The Plough is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
St Albans City Council inspects The Plough 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 Plough 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
St Albans City inspects and rates 1,163 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in St Albans City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/business/Health-and-safety/food-safety/foodHygieneRating.aspx
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 →