The Old Neptune food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Canterbury City
The Old Neptune 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 18 March 2026, 3 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: Old Neptune Inn, Marine Terrace, Whitstable, CT5 1EJ
How it compares in Canterbury City
That puts The Old Neptune among the 1,161 places in Canterbury City holding top marks, 78% 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 | 1,161 | 78% | ← The Old Neptune | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 185 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 120 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 166 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 The Old Neptune 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 Old Neptune, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 328 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2025 |
| Holdens Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 350 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| Please Sir Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 354 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Farm & Harper Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 361 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Lotties Sweet Creams Manufacturers/packers | 369 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2024 |
| Holland & Barrett Retailers - other | 369 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2024 |
| A La Turka Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 377 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2024 |
| Blueprint Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 383 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 December 2023 |
Questions about The Old Neptune
What is The Old Neptune's food hygiene rating?
The Old Neptune has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Canterbury City Council on 18 March 2026.
Is The Old Neptune 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 The Old Neptune last inspected?
The Old Neptune was last inspected on 18 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Canterbury City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Old Neptune?
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 The Old Neptune compare to other places in Canterbury City?
78% of the 1,483 rated food businesses in Canterbury City hold the top rating of 5, and The Old Neptune is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Canterbury City Council inspects The Old Neptune 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 Old Neptune 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 Old Neptune is one of 294 rated food businesses in Whitstable. See every hygiene rating in Whitstable →
Canterbury City inspects and rates 1,649 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Canterbury City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.canterbury.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 →