Sweet Alley food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Central Bedfordshire
Sweet Alley holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 24 February 2016, more than 10 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: 1-3 Abbots Walk, Biggleswade, SG18 0LF
How it compares in Central Bedfordshire
That puts Sweet Alley 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% | ← Sweet Alley | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Sweet Alley 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 Sweet Alley, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2026 |
| Ignite Studios Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Surfin Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2024 |
| The Crown Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2024 |
| Jones' Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2025 |
| Greggs Takeaway/sandwich shop | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2026 |
| The Rose Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2024 |
| Iceland Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 119 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 September 2023 |
Questions about Sweet Alley
What is Sweet Alley's food hygiene rating?
Sweet Alley has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Central Bedfordshire Council on 24 February 2016.
Is Sweet Alley 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Sweet Alley last inspected?
Sweet Alley was last inspected on 24 February 2016, more than 10 years 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 Sweet Alley?
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 Sweet Alley 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 Sweet Alley is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Central Bedfordshire Council inspects Sweet Alley 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 Sweet Alley and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sweet Alley is one of 64 rated food businesses in Biggleswade. See every hygiene rating in Biggleswade →
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 →