The Bell Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Thanet
The Bell Inn holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Bell Inn was inspected on 28 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 1% of rated food businesses in Thanet score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Thanet ratings →
Address: 2 High Street, Minster, Kent, CT12 4BU
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near The Bell Inn
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How this rating has changed
The Bell Inn has gone backwards: it held a 4 before its inspection on 28 July 2026, and now holds a 2. A rating of 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 28 July 2026 | 4 2 | Worse |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Thanet
A 2 is rare: only 5 of 1,502 rated places in Thanet score this low, about one in 300. By contrast 96% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,435 | 96% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 3% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ← The Bell Inn | |
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 18 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 The Bell Inn the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Bell Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chefs of India Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2025 |
| Bon Bon's Out of School Club Caring Premises | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2024 |
| Attwells News Retailers - other | 357 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2016 |
| Archie's Fish and Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 384 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2025 |
| Dragon Inn Takeaway/sandwich shop | 420 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2026 |
| Jemima's Tea Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 423 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2025 |
| Minster Kebabs Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Sin Le Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
Questions about The Bell Inn
What is The Bell Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Bell Inn has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Thanet Council on 28 July 2026.
Is The Bell Inn safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Bell Inn last inspected?
The Bell Inn was last inspected on 28 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Thanet Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bell Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Bell Inn compare to other places in Thanet?
96% of the 1,502 rated food businesses in Thanet hold the top rating of 5, while The Bell Inn holds a 2. 5 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Thanet Council inspects The Bell Inn 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 The Bell Inn 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Thanet, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Thanet
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Bell Inn is one of 46 rated food businesses in Minster. See every hygiene rating in Minster →
Thanet inspects and rates 1,520 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Thanet →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.thanet.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 →