The Ale House food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Ribble Valley
The Ale House 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 August 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: 12-14 Market Place, Clitheroe, BB7 2DA
How it compares in Ribble Valley
In Ribble Valley, 87% of rated places manage a 5, so The Ale House sits behind roughly 501 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 501 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 55 | 10% | ← The Ale House | |
| 3 out of 5 | 11 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 76 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Ale House 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 Ale House, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESC.CC - Escape Coffee & Cocktails Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| Brioche Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Colborne House Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| Exchange Coffee Company Ltd. Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
| Key Street Ltd Pub/bar/nightclub | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2026 |
| Do Street Food Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2025 |
| CJ's Sandwich Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2026 |
| Broccoli Inc. @ The Conservative Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 124 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2020 |
Questions about The Ale House
What is The Ale House's food hygiene rating?
The Ale House has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Ribble Valley Council on 17 August 2018.
Is The Ale House 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 Ale House last inspected?
The Ale House was last inspected on 17 August 2018, more than 7 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Ribble Valley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ale House?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Ale House compare to other places in Ribble Valley?
87% of the 574 rated food businesses in Ribble Valley hold the top rating of 5, while The Ale House holds a 4. 55 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Ribble Valley Council inspects The Ale House 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 Ale House 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 Ale House is one of 307 rated food businesses in Clitheroe. See every hygiene rating in Clitheroe →
Ribble Valley inspects and rates 650 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Ribble Valley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.ribblevalley.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 →