The Plug food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Sandwell
The Plug holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 3 March 2026, 4 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: 121 Poplar Road, Smethwick, B66 4AP
How it compares in Sandwell
In Sandwell, 66% of rated places manage a 5, so The Plug sits behind roughly 1,561 nearby businesses. 22% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,561 | 66% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 513 | 22% | ← The Plug | |
| 3 out of 5 | 168 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 41 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 56 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | <1% |
A further 326 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 Plug 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 Plug, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral Retailers - other | 174 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 January 2025 |
| 1000 Trades Catering Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 226 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Limited Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 284 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2023 |
| "Playhouse Nursery" Private Day Nursery Caring Premises | 306 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| Argos Ltd Retailers - other | 404 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2025 |
| Avery Fields Events Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 431 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2024 |
| ABC Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2026 |
| A La Mexicana Authentic Mexican Food Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 August 2025 |
Questions about The Plug
What is The Plug's food hygiene rating?
The Plug has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Sandwell Council on 3 March 2026.
Is The Plug safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Plug last inspected?
The Plug was last inspected on 3 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sandwell Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Plug?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 Plug compare to other places in Sandwell?
66% of the 2,350 rated food businesses in Sandwell hold the top rating of 5, while The Plug holds a 4. 513 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Sandwell Council inspects The Plug 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 Plug 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 Plug is one of 468 rated food businesses in Smethwick. See every hygiene rating in Smethwick →
Sandwell inspects and rates 2,676 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sandwell →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/foodratings
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 →