The Horseshoe food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Birmingham
The Horseshoe 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: The Horseshoe was inspected on 13 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 10% of rated food businesses in Birmingham score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Birmingham ratings →
Address: Horseshoe Inn, 611 Alcester Road South, Billesley, B14 5EL
How this rating has changed
The Horseshoe was re-inspected on 13 July 2026 and held its rating of 1.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 13 July 2026 | 1 1 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Birmingham
A 1 is rare: only 407 of 8,561 rated places in Birmingham score this low, about one in 21. By contrast 65% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 5,554 | 65% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 1,369 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 766 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 370 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 407 | 5% | ← The Horseshoe | |
| 0 out of 5 | 95 | 1% |
A further 1,660 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 Major improvement necessary
- 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 Horseshoe the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 The Horseshoe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arty Goat Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2024 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2011 |
| Bargain Buys Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2022 |
| Baabzi Takeaway - Kings Heath Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2025 |
| Argos Maypole Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2019 |
| 202 Fd Hospital Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2017 |
Questions about The Horseshoe
What is The Horseshoe's food hygiene rating?
The Horseshoe has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Birmingham Council on 13 July 2026.
Is The Horseshoe 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 The Horseshoe last inspected?
The Horseshoe was last inspected on 13 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Birmingham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Horseshoe?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", 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 Horseshoe compare to other places in Birmingham?
65% of the 8,561 rated food businesses in Birmingham hold the top rating of 5, while The Horseshoe holds a 1. 407 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Birmingham Council inspects The Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe 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 Birmingham, 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: Birmingham
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Horseshoe is one of 78 rated food businesses in Billesley. See every hygiene rating in Billesley →
Birmingham inspects and rates 10,221 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Birmingham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/environmental-health
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 →