The Squirrel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Stevenage
The Squirrel 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 27 May 2021, more than 5 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: Austen Paths, Stevenage, Herts, SG2 0NH
How it compares in Stevenage
That puts The Squirrel among the 467 places in Stevenage holding top marks, 89% 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 | 467 | 89% | ← The Squirrel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 41 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 10 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 166 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 Squirrel 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 Squirrel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gangnam Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2024 |
| Chells Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2021 |
| Glebe Sports Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2021 |
| Golden Fry Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
| Costello's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2022 |
| Bedwell JMI School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2025 |
| Bunnies Preschool (Shephall) School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2026 |
Questions about The Squirrel
What is The Squirrel's food hygiene rating?
The Squirrel has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Stevenage Council on 27 May 2021.
Is The Squirrel 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 Squirrel last inspected?
The Squirrel was last inspected on 27 May 2021, more than 5 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stevenage Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Squirrel?
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 Squirrel compare to other places in Stevenage?
89% of the 527 rated food businesses in Stevenage hold the top rating of 5, and The Squirrel is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Stevenage Council inspects The Squirrel 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 Squirrel 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
The Squirrel is one of 417 rated food businesses in Herts. See every hygiene rating in Herts →
Stevenage inspects and rates 693 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stevenage →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stevenage.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 →