The Snug food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Hertfordshire
The Snug 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 21 February 2020, more than 6 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: 24 Sun Street, Hitchin, SG5 1AH
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
That puts The Snug 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 Snug | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Snug 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 Snug, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchin Coffee Lab Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
| 27 Street, Bagels & Baguettes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 20 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| Bridgetown Monroe Pub/bar/nightclub | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2026 |
| Angel Vaults Pub/bar/nightclub | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Bosphorus Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 34 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Four Leaf Clover Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 34 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Bar Azita Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2026 |
| Allinghams Butchers Retailers - other | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2024 |
Questions about The Snug
What is The Snug's food hygiene rating?
The Snug has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 21 February 2020.
Is The Snug 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 Snug last inspected?
The Snug was last inspected on 21 February 2020, more than 6 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 The Snug?
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 Snug 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 Snug is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects The Snug 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 Snug 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 Snug 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 →