The Red Cow

Hertfordshire

Food hygiene rating 2 / 5 · Improvement necessary

Bit dodgy, this one

The Red Cow scored just 2 out of 5 at its last inspection. Maybe think twice before ordering.

The breakdown

Hygiene Generally satisfactory Cleanliness & condition Improvement necessary Confidence in management Generally satisfactory

Last inspected on 7 October 2025 by St Albans City.

What does this rating mean?

The Red Cow in Hertfordshire has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (improvement necessary). On the Food Standards Agency scale, 5 is the best and 0 is the worst. A 2 out of 5 means some 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?

171 West Common,
Harpenden,
Hertfordshire,
AL5 4ND

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

Who inspects The Red Cow?

Food hygiene at The Red Cow is inspected by St Albans City, the local authority responsible for this area. You can reach them at http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/business/Health-and-safety/food-safety/foodHygieneRating.aspx or [email protected].

Questions about The Red Cow

What is The Red Cow’s food hygiene rating?

The Red Cow has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (Improvement necessary), based on its last Food Standards Agency inspection on 7 October 2025.

When was The Red Cow last inspected?

The Red Cow was last inspected by St Albans City on 7 October 2025.

Is a 2 out of 5 hygiene rating good?

A 2 out of 5 means some 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.