Barley Post Office & Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · North Hertfordshire
Barley Post Office & Stores holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 21 June 2011, more than 15 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: Barley Post Office Doggetts Barn Church End, Barley, SG8 8JW
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
That puts Barley Post Office & Stores 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% | ← Barley Post Office & Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very 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 Barley Post Office & Stores 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 Barley Post Office & Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barley C of E School School/college/university | 3 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2019 |
| Margaret House Caring Premises | 41 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| The Fox & Hounds Pub/bar/nightclub | 257 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| The Chequers Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 4 - Good | 19 March 2025 |
Questions about Barley Post Office & Stores
What is Barley Post Office & Stores's food hygiene rating?
Barley Post Office & Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 21 June 2011.
Is Barley Post Office & Stores 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Barley Post Office & Stores last inspected?
Barley Post Office & Stores was last inspected on 21 June 2011, more than 15 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 Barley Post Office & Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Barley Post Office & Stores 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 Barley Post Office & Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects Barley Post Office & Stores 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 Barley Post Office & Stores 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →