Downham Hall food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · Chelmsford
Downham Hall holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the hotel met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 24 February 2026, 4 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: North Wing, Downham Hall, Castledon Road, CM11 1LG
How it compares in Chelmsford
That puts Downham Hall among the 1,344 places in Chelmsford holding top marks, 92% 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 | 1,344 | 92% | ← Downham Hall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 85 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 143 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Downham Hall 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 Downham Hall, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downham Dairy Barn Takeaway/sandwich shop | 6 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2024 |
| Carroll Cupcake Company Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2024 |
| Beauvoir Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2025 |
| Childrens Support Service School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
Questions about Downham Hall
What is Downham Hall's food hygiene rating?
Downham Hall has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Chelmsford Council on 24 February 2026.
Is Downham Hall 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 hotel to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Downham Hall last inspected?
Downham Hall was last inspected on 24 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Chelmsford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Downham Hall?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Downham Hall compare to other places in Chelmsford?
92% of the 1,463 rated food businesses in Chelmsford hold the top rating of 5, and Downham Hall is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Chelmsford Council inspects Downham Hall 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 Downham Hall and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Chelmsford inspects and rates 1,606 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Chelmsford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.chelmsford.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 →