The Orange Tree PH food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire
The Orange Tree PH holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Orange Tree PH was inspected on 20 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: The Orange Tree Norton Road, Baldock, SG7 5AW
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
A 2 is rare: only 13 of 1,015 rated places in North Hertfordshire score this low, about one in 78. By contrast 78% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 789 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 155 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 48 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ← The Orange Tree PH | |
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 105 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Orange Tree PH the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Orange Tree PH, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterplus @ MCarthy & Stone Norton Place Caring Premises | 137 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| Avenue Park Sports Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 222 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2018 |
| Batch Fifty Two Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 317 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2024 |
| Baldock Spice Takeaway/sandwich shop | 321 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2025 |
| Bombay Bistro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 353 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
| Baldock Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 360 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2026 |
| Baldock Town Hall Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 360 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2015 |
| China Garden Takeaway/sandwich shop | 360 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2025 |
Questions about The Orange Tree PH
What is The Orange Tree PH's food hygiene rating?
The Orange Tree PH has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 20 May 2026.
Is The Orange Tree PH safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Orange Tree PH last inspected?
The Orange Tree PH was last inspected on 20 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Orange Tree PH?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Orange Tree PH compare to other places in North Hertfordshire?
78% of the 1,015 rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Orange Tree PH holds a 2. 13 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects The Orange Tree PH 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 Orange Tree PH 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at North Hertfordshire, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: North Hertfordshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Orange Tree PH is one of 82 rated food businesses in Baldock. See every hygiene rating in Baldock →
North Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,120 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.north-herts.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 →