The Ship food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bedford
The Ship 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 22 February 2023, more than 3 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: The Ship 102 Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2QH
How it compares in Bedford
That puts The Ship among the 1,208 places in Bedford holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,208 | 83% | ← The Ship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 164 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 72 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 190 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 Ship 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 Ship, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bromham Road News Retailers - other | 11 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2026 |
| Best Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 13 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2025 |
| Best Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 17 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2025 |
| Annandale Nursing Home Caring Premises | 283 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2025 |
| Casa Cesare Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 310 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2023 |
| Apex Care Homes Ltd at The Crescent Nursing Home Caring Premises | 343 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2026 |
| Chicken George Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 388 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2026 |
| Barley Mow Pub/bar/nightclub | 400 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2024 |
Questions about The Ship
What is The Ship's food hygiene rating?
The Ship has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bedford Council on 22 February 2023.
Is The Ship 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 Ship last inspected?
The Ship was last inspected on 22 February 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bedford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ship?
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 Ship compare to other places in Bedford?
83% of the 1,460 rated food businesses in Bedford hold the top rating of 5, and The Ship is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bedford Council inspects The Ship 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 Ship 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bedford inspects and rates 1,650 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bedford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bedford.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 →