Essex Skipper food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Harlow
Essex Skipper 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 8 May 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: The Stow, Harlow, Essex, CM20 3AS
How it compares in Harlow
That puts Essex Skipper among the 497 places in Harlow holding top marks, 81% 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 | 497 | 81% | ← Essex Skipper | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 78 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 76 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 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 Essex Skipper 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 Essex Skipper, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Delight Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 42 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
| Belash Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Dorringtons Retailers - other | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 September 2024 |
| Dial Indian Takeaway/sandwich shop | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 199 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2014 |
| Ashlyns Caring Premises | 303 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
| Cooks Spinney Primary Academy And Nursery School/college/university | 335 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| Burnt Mill Academy School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
Questions about Essex Skipper
What is Essex Skipper's food hygiene rating?
Essex Skipper has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Harlow Council on 8 May 2024.
Is Essex Skipper 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 Essex Skipper last inspected?
Essex Skipper was last inspected on 8 May 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Harlow Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Essex Skipper?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Essex Skipper compare to other places in Harlow?
81% of the 611 rated food businesses in Harlow hold the top rating of 5, and Essex Skipper is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Harlow Council inspects Essex Skipper 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 Essex Skipper 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Harlow inspects and rates 687 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Harlow →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.harlow.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 →