The Plough Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · South Kesteven
The Plough Inn holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 26 September 2025, 9 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: 4 Spring Lane, Horbling, NG34 0PF
How it compares in South Kesteven
In South Kesteven, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so The Plough Inn sits behind roughly 916 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 916 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 109 | 10% | ← The Plough Inn | |
| 3 out of 5 | 49 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 78 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 Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browns C of E(Aided) School School/college/university | 370 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2025 |
| Billingborough Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Nisa Local Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 9 October 2025 |
| Co-op Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Old Hall Rest Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| Billingborough Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 8 April 2025 |
| Blessett Butchers Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Post 'N' More Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
Questions about The Plough Inn
What is The Plough Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Plough Inn has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by South Kesteven Council on 26 September 2025.
Is The Plough Inn safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Plough Inn last inspected?
The Plough Inn was last inspected on 26 September 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Kesteven 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 "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Plough Inn compare to other places in South Kesteven?
83% of the 1,098 rated food businesses in South Kesteven hold the top rating of 5, while The Plough Inn holds a 4. 109 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Kesteven 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
South Kesteven inspects and rates 1,176 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Kesteven →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southkesteven.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 →