The Highlander food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire
The Highlander 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 18 September 2024, 21 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Highlander 45 Upper Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2EF
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
That puts The Highlander among the 789 places in North Hertfordshire holding top marks, 78% 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 | 789 | 78% | ← The Highlander | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 155 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 48 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- 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 The Highlander 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 Highlander, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterplus @ McCarthy & Stone Park House Caring Premises | 285 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2026 |
| Coopers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 320 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| CH & Co at ReAssure Hitchin Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 356 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 April 2025 |
| Hitchin Priory Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 356 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2024 |
| Gather & Gather by CH&CO Catering Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 387 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2025 |
| Christchurch Open Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 435 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2015 |
| Bar Azita Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 439 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2026 |
| Cafe Air Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2018 |
Questions about The Highlander
What is The Highlander's food hygiene rating?
The Highlander has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 18 September 2024.
Is The Highlander 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 Highlander last inspected?
The Highlander was last inspected on 18 September 2024, 21 months 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 Highlander?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Highlander compare to other places in North Hertfordshire?
78% of the 1,015 rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Highlander is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects The Highlander 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 Highlander 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 Highlander is one of 307 rated food businesses in Hitchin. See every hygiene rating in Hitchin →
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 →