The Imperial food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Tunbridge Wells
The Imperial holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 17 July 2025, 11 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: 29 London Road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 0PB
How it compares in Tunbridge Wells
In Tunbridge Wells, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so The Imperial sits behind roughly 860 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 860 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 114 | 11% | ← The Imperial | |
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 45 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 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 Imperial 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 Imperial, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blended Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 169 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
| Best Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2025 |
| Costcutter Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| Christ Church Community Larder Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2021 |
Questions about The Imperial
What is The Imperial's food hygiene rating?
The Imperial has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Tunbridge Wells Council on 17 July 2025.
Is The Imperial safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Imperial last inspected?
The Imperial was last inspected on 17 July 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tunbridge Wells Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Imperial?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Imperial compare to other places in Tunbridge Wells?
83% of the 1,038 rated food businesses in Tunbridge Wells hold the top rating of 5, while The Imperial holds a 4. 114 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Tunbridge Wells Council inspects The Imperial 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 Imperial 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 Imperial is one of 49 rated food businesses in Southborough. See every hygiene rating in Southborough →
Tunbridge Wells inspects and rates 1,083 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tunbridge Wells →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tunbridgewells.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 →