Malt Shovel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Sevenoaks
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
The rating dates from 7 April 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.
Address: Malt Shovel, Station Road, Eynsford, DA4 0ER
How it compares in Sevenoaks
That puts Malt Shovel among the 669 places in Sevenoaks 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 | 669 | 78% | ← Malt Shovel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 119 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 47 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 103 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 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 Malt Shovel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge House Stores Retailers - other | 71 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| The Plough Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 397 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2024 |
| Normans Butchers Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2024 |
| The Castle Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2025 |
| Caterlink @ Anthony Roper Primary School School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 11 December 2024 |
| Eagle Heights Wildlife Park Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
Questions about Malt Shovel
What is Malt Shovel's food hygiene rating?
Malt Shovel has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Sevenoaks Council on 7 April 2026.
Is 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 Malt Shovel last inspected?
Malt Shovel was last inspected on 7 April 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sevenoaks Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Malt Shovel?
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 Malt Shovel compare to other places in Sevenoaks?
78% of the 854 rated food businesses in Sevenoaks hold the top rating of 5, and Malt Shovel is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Sevenoaks Council inspects 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 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
Sevenoaks inspects and rates 957 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sevenoaks →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sevenoaks.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 →