The Malt Shovel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cheshire West and Chester
The Malt Shovel 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
This is a fresh result: The Malt Shovel was inspected on 22 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: The Malt Shovel 35 Liverpool Road, Neston, CH64 3RB
How it compares in Cheshire West and Chester
That puts The Malt Shovel 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 Malt Shovel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very 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 Malt Shovel 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 Malt Shovel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neston Methodist Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 45 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 January 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2024 |
| Brewers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 176 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 September 2023 |
| Sainsburys Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 250 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 July 2025 |
| Great British Bakehouse at Neston Market Retailers - other | 256 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 August 2024 |
| Happy Hens Retailers - other | 256 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 May 2024 |
| Rich Coffee Retailers - other | 256 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 May 2024 |
| Bolete Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 334 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2025 |
Questions about The Malt Shovel
What is The Malt Shovel's food hygiene rating?
The Malt Shovel has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cheshire West and Chester Council on 22 May 2026.
Is The Malt Shovel 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 Malt Shovel last inspected?
The Malt Shovel was last inspected on 22 May 2026, a month 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 Malt Shovel?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Malt Shovel 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 Malt Shovel is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cheshire West and Chester Council inspects The Malt Shovel 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 Malt Shovel 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 Malt Shovel is one of 106 rated food businesses in Neston. See every hygiene rating in Neston →
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 →