The Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Central Bedfordshire
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 3 February 2026, 5 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 1 Station Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1AW
How it compares in Central Bedfordshire
That puts The Bell among the 1,153 places in Central Bedfordshire holding top marks, 76% 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 | 1,153 | 76% | ← The Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 254 | 17% | ||
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Mini Explorers Ltd Caring Premises | 155 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2024 |
| Premier Wraparound Club School/college/university | 180 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2024 |
| St Swithun's CoE VC Primary School School/college/university | 243 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Sir William Peel Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Brew and Renew Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
| Bee Bubble Tea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| J S Alsford Butchers Ltd Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
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 Central Bedfordshire Council on 3 February 2026.
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 3 February 2026, 5 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 Bell?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Bell compare to other places in Central Bedfordshire?
76% of the 1,520 rated food businesses in Central Bedfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Bell is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Central Bedfordshire 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 34 rated food businesses in Sandy. See every hygiene rating in Sandy →
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 →