Thai Plough food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Cambridgeshire
Thai Plough holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Thai Plough was inspected on 27 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 106 Main Street, Little Downham, Ely, CB6 2SX
How it compares in East Cambridgeshire
A 1 is rare: only 5 of 697 rated places in East Cambridgeshire score this low, about one in 139. By contrast 83% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 579 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 65 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ← Thai Plough | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 91 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Thai Plough the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Thai Plough, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterlink @ Downham Feoffees Primary Academy School/college/university | 367 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2024 |
| Little Downham Anchor Pub/bar/nightclub | 367 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Little Downham Day Centre Other catering premises | 374 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2018 |
Questions about Thai Plough
What is Thai Plough's food hygiene rating?
Thai Plough has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by East Cambridgeshire Council on 27 May 2026.
Is Thai Plough safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Thai Plough last inspected?
Thai Plough was last inspected on 27 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Cambridgeshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Thai Plough?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Thai Plough compare to other places in East Cambridgeshire?
83% of the 697 rated food businesses in East Cambridgeshire hold the top rating of 5, while Thai Plough holds a 1. 5 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Cambridgeshire Council inspects Thai 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 Thai 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at East Cambridgeshire, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: East Cambridgeshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Thai Plough is one of 418 rated food businesses in Ely. See every hygiene rating in Ely →
East Cambridgeshire inspects and rates 788 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Cambridgeshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastcambs.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 →