The Cottage

Elstow

Heads up: The Cottage no longer shows up in the latest Food Standards Agency data for Bedford. It may have closed, changed its name or moved. The rating below is the last one the FSA published for it.

Food hygiene rating 1 / 5 · Major improvement necessary

Bit dodgy, this one

The Cottage scored just 1 out of 5 at its last inspection. Maybe think twice before ordering.

The breakdown

Hygiene Generally satisfactory Cleanliness & condition Generally satisfactory Confidence in management Major improvement necessary

Last inspected on 4 November 2025 by Bedford.

What does this rating mean?

The Cottage in Elstow has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary). On the Food Standards Agency scale, 5 is the best and 0 is the worst. A 1 out of 5 means major improvement was necessary at the last inspection.

The rating reflects standards found at the last inspection. It is not a verdict on how the food tastes - it scores how well the business manages food safety. How often a place is inspected depends on its risk: lower-rated and higher-risk businesses are revisited more often than spotless ones.

Where is it?

206 High Street,
Elstow,
Bedford,
MK42 9XU

This is the official Food Standards Agency hygiene badge for The Cottage. The data is published by the FSA under the Open Government Licence.

Who inspects The Cottage?

Food hygiene at The Cottage is inspected by Bedford, the local authority responsible for this area. You can reach them at http://www.bedford.gov.uk or [email protected].

Questions about The Cottage

What is The Cottage’s food hygiene rating?

The Cottage has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (Major improvement necessary), based on its last Food Standards Agency inspection on 4 November 2025.

When was The Cottage last inspected?

The Cottage was last inspected by Bedford on 4 November 2025.

Is a 1 out of 5 hygiene rating good?

A 1 out of 5 means major improvement was necessary at the last inspection.

What do the food hygiene scores mean?

The rating combines three checks made on the day of the inspection: how hygienically food is handled, the cleanliness and condition of the premises, and how confident the inspector is that management will keep standards up. A higher overall score, from 0 up to 5, means fewer problems were found.

Has The Cottage closed down?

The Cottage no longer appears in the latest Food Standards Agency data for Bedford, which usually means it has closed, changed name or moved. The rating shown here is the last one the FSA published for it.