Bell Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Suffolk
Bell Inn holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 14 February 2025, 16 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: The Street, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, NR33 8JR
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts Bell Inn among the 1,994 places in East Suffolk holding top marks, 86% 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 | 1,994 | 86% | ← Bell Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 212 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 202 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 Very 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 Bell Inn 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 Bell Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton Colville Pre-School Caring Premises | 162 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2025 |
| Carlton Colville Service STN Retailers - other | 290 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 January 2010 |
| Gisleham Parish Room Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2024 |
| Carlton Hall Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2026 |
| Deans Beans Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2025 |
| East Coast Community Healthcare At Carlton Court Hospital Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| Coach House Manor Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2026 |
| J & J Wilson Supermarket 305 Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 April 2024 |
Questions about Bell Inn
What is Bell Inn's food hygiene rating?
Bell Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 14 February 2025.
Is Bell Inn 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Bell Inn last inspected?
Bell Inn was last inspected on 14 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bell Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Bell Inn compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,317 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and Bell Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects 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 Bell Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bell Inn is one of 573 rated food businesses in Lowestoft. See every hygiene rating in Lowestoft →
East Suffolk inspects and rates 2,519 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastsuffolk.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 →