5

Kent Arms food hygiene rating

Pub/bar/nightclub · Bedford

Kent Arms 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 10 February 2016, more than 10 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: The Kent Arms 54 Salisbury Street, Bedford, MK41 7RQ

How it compares in Bedford

That puts Kent Arms among the 1,208 places in Bedford holding top marks, 83% 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.

Every rated food business in Bedford
5 out of 5 1,208 83% ← Kent Arms
4 out of 5 164 11%
3 out of 5 72 5%
2 out of 5 12 1%
1 out of 5 4 <1%
0 out of 5 0 0%

A further 190 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 Kent Arms 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 Kent Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Chicken George Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 29 April 2026
Charcoal grill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 7 May 2026
Apex Care Homes Ltd at The Crescent Nursing Home Caring Premises 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 2 June 2026
Bedford Booze Retailers - other 0.4 miles away 5 - Very good 2 November 2023
Biryano / Pepper Ceylon Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.4 miles away 5 - Very good 9 July 2025
Bedford School School/college/university 0.4 miles away 5 - Very good 13 March 2025
Barley Mow Pub/bar/nightclub 0.5 miles away 5 - Very good 18 September 2024
Annandale Nursing Home Caring Premises 0.5 miles away 5 - Very good 9 May 2025

Questions about Kent Arms

What is Kent Arms's food hygiene rating?

Kent Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bedford Council on 10 February 2016.

Is Kent Arms 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 Kent Arms last inspected?

Kent Arms was last inspected on 10 February 2016, more than 10 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bedford Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at Kent Arms?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does Kent Arms compare to other places in Bedford?

83% of the 1,460 rated food businesses in Bedford hold the top rating of 5, and Kent Arms is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Bedford Council inspects Kent Arms 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 Kent Arms 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

Bedford inspects and rates 1,650 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bedford

The official record is held by the council: http://www.bedford.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 →