The Spotted Dog food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Berkshire
The Spotted Dog 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 29 April 2026, 2 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: The Spotted Dog Gladstone Lane, Cold Ash, Thatcham, RG18 9PR
How it compares in West Berkshire
That puts The Spotted Dog among the 932 places in West Berkshire holding top marks, 86% 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 | 932 | 86% | ← The Spotted Dog | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 93 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 163 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 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 Spotted Dog 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 Spotted Dog, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterlink @ St. Finian's Catholic Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
| Downe House School School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2024 |
| Impact Food Group at Whitelands Park Primary School School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
| Costcutter Retailers - other | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2022 |
| Bengal Spice Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2024 |
| Berkshire Vision - West Berkshire West Socialeyes at Thatcham Catholic Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2026 |
| Hidden Gem at Alice Bye Court Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 November 2024 |
| Moon and Stars Catering Mobile caterer | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
Questions about The Spotted Dog
What is The Spotted Dog's food hygiene rating?
The Spotted Dog has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Berkshire Council on 29 April 2026.
Is The Spotted Dog 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 Spotted Dog last inspected?
The Spotted Dog was last inspected on 29 April 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Berkshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Spotted Dog?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Spotted Dog compare to other places in West Berkshire?
86% of the 1,090 rated food businesses in West Berkshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Spotted Dog is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Berkshire Council inspects The Spotted Dog 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 Spotted Dog 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 Spotted Dog is one of 168 rated food businesses in Thatcham. See every hygiene rating in Thatcham →
West Berkshire inspects and rates 1,253 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Berkshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westberks.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 →