1,108 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.7 out of 5. 77.4% rated "very good".
Food hygiene ratings in North Hertfordshire are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.
North Hertfordshire currently has 1,108 registered food businesses. Of these, 1,004 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs broadly in line with the national average, with 77.4% rated 5 out of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.7 out of 5. There are currently 9 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they require urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.
If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.
| Name | Address | Rating | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge Street Bistro | SG5 2DF | 1 | Jun 26, 2025 |
| Esquires Hitchin | SG5 1DR | 1 | May 06, 2025 |
| Fox and Duck | SG8 9PN | 1 | Jun 26, 2025 |
| Ickleford Sports & Recreational Club | SG5 3YA | 1 | May 04, 2023 |
| Lea Snack Bar | SG6 1SP | 1 | Oct 20, 2025 |
| PB Peri Peri & Fried Chicken | SG5 1RG | 1 | Sep 10, 2025 |
| The Famous | SG7 6NG | 1 | Dec 18, 2025 |
| The Strawberry Café | 1 | May 21, 2025 | |
| Unique Bar & Grill | SG4 8XE | 1 | Jul 31, 2025 |
| Aroma Cafe | SG4 0AA | 2 | Mar 04, 2025 |
| Country Matters | SG5 3JD | 2 | Feb 16, 2024 |
| Crumps Butchers | SG7 5LY | 2 | Mar 07, 2025 |
| EAT! | SG6 3EE | 2 | Jun 04, 2025 |
| Hen & Chickens | SG7 6BZ | 2 | Aug 28, 2024 |
| Jubilee Social | SG6 1WU | 2 | Jul 28, 2025 |
There are currently 777 food businesses in North Hertfordshire with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 77.4% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.
A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.
Inspection frequency in North Hertfordshire depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.