The Plough food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Kesteven
The Plough 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 3 July 2025, 12 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: The Plough Inn, 3 Church Lane, LN4 4DJ
How it compares in North Kesteven
That puts The Plough among the 860 places in North Kesteven holding top marks, 93% 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 | 860 | 93% | ← The Plough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 55 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 52 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 Plough 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, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Old Coach Tandoori Takeaway/sandwich shop | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| Dolly's Diner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2022 |
| York House Nursing Home Caring Premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2025 |
| The Ship Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2024 |
| Golden Hay Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2025 |
| Jimmy's Place Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.4 miles away | 4 - Good | 28 April 2026 |
| Red Spice Indian Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 July 2024 |
| Super Kebab Mobile caterer | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2024 |
Questions about The Plough
What is The Plough's food hygiene rating?
The Plough has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Kesteven Council on 3 July 2025.
Is The Plough 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 last inspected?
The Plough was last inspected on 3 July 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Kesteven Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Plough?
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 Plough compare to other places in North Kesteven?
93% of the 924 rated food businesses in North Kesteven hold the top rating of 5, and The Plough is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Kesteven Council inspects The Plough 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 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 Kesteven inspects and rates 976 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Kesteven →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.n-kesteven.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 →