The Crown food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Hertfordshire
The Crown 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 17 November 2011, more than 14 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 17 High Street, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 9AB
How it compares in East Hertfordshire
In East Hertfordshire, 84% of rated places manage a 5, so The Crown sits behind roughly 977 nearby businesses. 13% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 977 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 146 | 13% | ← The Crown | |
| 3 out of 5 | 30 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 221 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 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 Crown 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 Crown, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Peters Church Other catering premises | at this address | 4 - Good | 11 October 2006 |
| The Fisherman (Fish Van) Retailers - other | 30 yards away | 4 - Good | 28 June 2004 |
| Black Bull Pub/bar/nightclub | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 May 2024 |
| Efis Takeaway/sandwich shop | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2025 |
| Louies Sandwich Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 82 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Budgens Buntingford Retailers - other | 84 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2024 |
| Peppermill Bar And Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| The Cheese Plate Retailers - other | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 April 2024 |
Questions about The Crown
What is The Crown's food hygiene rating?
The Crown has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by East Hertfordshire Council on 17 November 2011.
Is The Crown 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 Crown last inspected?
The Crown was last inspected on 17 November 2011, more than 14 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Crown?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Crown compare to other places in East Hertfordshire?
84% of the 1,168 rated food businesses in East Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Crown holds a 4. 146 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Hertfordshire Council inspects The Crown 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 Crown and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Crown is one of 61 rated food businesses in Buntingford. See every hygiene rating in Buntingford →
East Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,389 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastherts.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 →