5

The Bell food hygiene rating

Pub/bar/nightclub · East Hertfordshire

The Bell 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 21 December 2018, more than 7 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: 4 High Street, Standon, Ware, SG11 1LA

How it compares in East Hertfordshire

That puts The Bell among the 977 places in East Hertfordshire holding top marks, 84% 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.

Every rated food business in East Hertfordshire
5 out of 5 977 84% ← The Bell
4 out of 5 146 13%
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

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 Bell 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 Bell, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Westwoods Retailers - other at this address 5 - Very good 21 January 2016
Standon Convenience Retailers - other at this address 4 - Good 5 August 2025
Post Office & Convenience Store Retailers - other at this address Exempt
Days Of Ashwell Retailers - other 12 yards away 5 - Very good 19 July 2024
The Bell Pub/bar/nightclub 105 yards away Awaiting inspection
Star Public House Pub/bar/nightclub 205 yards away 4 - Good 16 January 2025
China Garden Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 370 yards away 5 - Very good 3 May 2024
Wasps Out Of School Club Caring Premises 0.4 miles away 5 - Very good 3 May 2024

Questions about The Bell

What is The Bell's food hygiene rating?

The Bell has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Hertfordshire Council on 21 December 2018.

Is The Bell 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 Bell last inspected?

The Bell was last inspected on 21 December 2018, more than 7 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 Bell?

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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does The Bell compare to other places in East Hertfordshire?

84% of the 1,168 rated food businesses in East Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Bell is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

East Hertfordshire Council inspects The Bell 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 Bell 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 Bell is one of 216 rated food businesses in Ware. See every hygiene rating in Ware

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 →