The Cross Keys food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · St Albans City
The Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys was inspected on 8 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
92% of rated food businesses in St Albans City score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all St Albans City ratings →
Address: Ballslough Hill, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, AL4 8LA
How this rating has changed
The Cross Keys was re-inspected on 8 August 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 8 August 2026 | AwaitingInspection 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in St Albans City
That puts The Cross Keys among the 820 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 | 820 | 77% | ← The Cross Keys | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 156 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 69 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 110 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 Cross Keys 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.
Questions about The Cross Keys
What is The Cross Keys's food hygiene rating?
The Cross Keys has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by St Albans City Council on 8 August 2026.
Is The Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys last inspected?
The Cross Keys was last inspected on 8 August 2026, a month 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 Cross Keys?
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 Cross Keys compare to other places in St Albans City?
77% of the 1,064 rated food businesses in St Albans City hold the top rating of 5, and The Cross Keys is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
St Albans City Council inspects The Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys is one of 32 rated food businesses in Wheathampstead. See every hygiene rating in Wheathampstead →
St Albans City inspects and rates 1,174 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 →