The Bayleaf food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Epping Forest
The Bayleaf holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 11 June 2025, 13 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: Unit 10 The Orchard, Fyfield Business and Research Park, Fyfield Road, CM5 0GN
How it compares in Epping Forest
That puts The Bayleaf among the 760 places in Epping Forest holding top marks, 84% 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 | 760 | 84% | ← The Bayleaf | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 96 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 36 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 148 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 The Bayleaf 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 The Bayleaf, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ongar Academy School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2024 |
| Savills Catering Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2025 |
| Ongar Youth Centre Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| Ongar Leisure Centre Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | Exempt | |
| The only way is fish Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Nisa Wisebuys Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 1 - Major improvement necessary | 9 June 2025 |
| Shelly stores Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2024 |
| BP Ongar Ltd Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 4 - Good | 1 September 2025 |
Questions about The Bayleaf
What is The Bayleaf's food hygiene rating?
The Bayleaf has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Epping Forest Council on 11 June 2025.
Is The Bayleaf 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Bayleaf last inspected?
The Bayleaf was last inspected on 11 June 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Epping Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bayleaf?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Bayleaf compare to other places in Epping Forest?
84% of the 910 rated food businesses in Epping Forest hold the top rating of 5, and The Bayleaf is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Epping Forest Council inspects The Bayleaf 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 Bayleaf and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Bayleaf is one of 78 rated food businesses in Ongar. See every hygiene rating in Ongar →
Epping Forest inspects and rates 1,058 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Epping Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eppingforestdc.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 →