Hen & Chickens food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire
Hen & Chickens 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
The rating dates from 28 August 2024, more than 2 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.
Only 2% of rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all North Hertfordshire ratings →
Address: The Hen And Chickens 51 South Road, Baldock, SG7 6BZ
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
A 2 is rare: only 12 of 1,007 rated places in North Hertfordshire score this low, about one in 84. 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 | 149 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 45 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ← Hen & Chickens | |
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 123 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety 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 Hen & Chickens 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 Hen & Chickens, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
| Greggs PLC Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Café Luna Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2024 |
| Chez Burton Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2025 |
| Amaz-Ballz Ball pit and Café Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2026 |
| Adzuki Red Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2026 |
| hype gym Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Hartsfield JMI School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2025 |
Questions about Hen & Chickens
What is Hen & Chickens's food hygiene rating?
Hen & Chickens has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 28 August 2024.
Is Hen & Chickens 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 Hen & Chickens last inspected?
Hen & Chickens was last inspected on 28 August 2024, more than 2 years 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 Hen & Chickens?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Hen & Chickens compare to other places in North Hertfordshire?
78% of the 1,007 rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, while Hen & Chickens holds a 2. 12 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects Hen & Chickens 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 Hen & Chickens 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
Hen & Chickens is one of 84 rated food businesses in Baldock. See every hygiene rating in Baldock →
North Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,130 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 →