The Plough Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Northumberland
The Plough Inn 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 1 August 2024, 23 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Front Street, Ellington, Northumberland, NE61 5JB
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Plough Inn among the 2,775 places in Northumberland holding top marks, 90% 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 | 2,775 | 90% | ← The Plough Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 393 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 Plough Inn 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 Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Top Stores Retailers - other | 145 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Ellington Juniors Football Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| Ellington Village Hall Association Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2018 |
| Ellington Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2026 |
| Ellington Primary School Breakfast & After School Club Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2026 |
| Green Chillies Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| Ellington Welfare Social Centre Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2018 |
| Crumbs and Coffee Community Cafe & Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2026 |
Questions about The Plough Inn
What is The Plough Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Plough Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 1 August 2024.
Is The Plough Inn 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 Inn last inspected?
The Plough Inn was last inspected on 1 August 2024, 23 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Northumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Plough Inn?
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 Plough Inn compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Plough Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Plough Inn 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 Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,466 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Northumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northumberland.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 →