The Plough Pub food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire
The Plough Pub 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 12 May 2026, 3 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.
93% of rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all North Hertfordshire ratings →
Address: The Plough Plough Lane, Kings Walden, SG4 8LA
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near The Plough Pub
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
That puts The Plough Pub among the 788 places in North Hertfordshire holding top marks, 78% 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 | 788 | 78% | ← The Plough Pub | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 149 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 123 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 Very 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 Plough Pub 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 Pub, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilkington Farms Partnership Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | Exempt | |
| Lodge Farmhouse B&B Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.9 miles away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Preston Primary School School/college/university | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2025 |
| Red Lion Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.2 miles away | 4 - Good | 2 June 2026 |
| Preston Nursery School School/college/university | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2010 |
| JC Agriculture Limited Distributors/Transporters | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| A Little Taste of Seoul - Destination for Local Produce Retailers - other | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Wrights Remedies Retailers - other | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2025 |
Questions about The Plough Pub
What is The Plough Pub's food hygiene rating?
The Plough Pub has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 12 May 2026.
Is The Plough Pub 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 Pub last inspected?
The Plough Pub was last inspected on 12 May 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Plough Pub?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Plough Pub compare to other places in North Hertfordshire?
78% of the 1,007 rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Plough Pub is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects The Plough Pub 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 Pub 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
North Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,130 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.north-herts.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 →