The Knife & Cleaver food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Central Bedfordshire
The Knife & Cleaver 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
This rating dates from 28 November 2024, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: The Grove, Houghton Conquest, Bedford, MK45 3LA
How it compares in Central Bedfordshire
In Central Bedfordshire, 76% of rated places manage a 5, so The Knife & Cleaver sits behind roughly 1,153 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,153 | 76% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 254 | 17% | ← The Knife & Cleaver | |
| 3 out of 5 | 83 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 189 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 Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 Knife & Cleaver 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 Knife & Cleaver, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nisa Local Retailers - other | 266 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2026 |
| Kidz Zone Club Caring Premises | 323 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2025 |
| Tracey Hollywell Mobile caterer | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2024 |
| Caffeine and Machine: The Bowl Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| eSKAbars Street Mobile caterer | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2023 |
Questions about The Knife & Cleaver
What is The Knife & Cleaver's food hygiene rating?
The Knife & Cleaver has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Central Bedfordshire Council on 28 November 2024.
Is The Knife & Cleaver 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 Knife & Cleaver last inspected?
The Knife & Cleaver was last inspected on 28 November 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Central Bedfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Knife & Cleaver?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Knife & Cleaver compare to other places in Central Bedfordshire?
76% of the 1,520 rated food businesses in Central Bedfordshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Knife & Cleaver holds a 4. 254 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Central Bedfordshire Council inspects The Knife & Cleaver 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 Knife & Cleaver and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Central Bedfordshire inspects and rates 1,709 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Central Bedfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.centralbedfordshire.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 →