The Bird in Hand food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Cheshire West and Chester
The Bird in Hand holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 8 August 2025, 11 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: Bird In Hand Church Lane, Guilden Sutton, Chester, CH3 7EW
How it compares in Cheshire West and Chester
That puts The Bird in Hand among the 2,139 places in Cheshire West and Chester holding top marks, 80% 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 | 2,139 | 80% | ← The Bird in Hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 311 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 145 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 32 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 36 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 308 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 Very 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 Bird in Hand 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 Bird in Hand, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe In The Church Hall Other catering premises | 132 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2016 |
| Chester Rugby FC Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2014 |
| Asda Express PFS Gowy Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| Centurion Community Action Group LTD Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2026 |
| Barrow C Of E Primary School School/college/university | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| Barrow School Wraparound Clubs School/college/university | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| Birch Heath Lodge Caring Premises | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2025 |
| abm catering @ Christleton High School School/college/university | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2024 |
Questions about The Bird in Hand
What is The Bird in Hand's food hygiene rating?
The Bird in Hand has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cheshire West and Chester Council on 8 August 2025.
Is The Bird in Hand 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Bird in Hand last inspected?
The Bird in Hand was last inspected on 8 August 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cheshire West and Chester Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bird in Hand?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Bird in Hand compare to other places in Cheshire West and Chester?
80% of the 2,665 rated food businesses in Cheshire West and Chester hold the top rating of 5, and The Bird in Hand is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cheshire West and Chester Council inspects The Bird in Hand 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 Bird in Hand 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 Bird in Hand is one of 1,134 rated food businesses in Chester. See every hygiene rating in Chester →
Cheshire West and Chester inspects and rates 2,973 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cheshire West and Chester →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cheshirewestandchester.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 →