The Drifter Public House food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Suffolk
The Drifter Public House 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 1 July 2021, more than 5 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 Drifter, 218 - 220 London Road South, Lowestoft, NR33 0BE
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts The Drifter Public House 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% | ← The Drifter Public House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 213 | 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 201 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 Drifter Public House 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 Drifter Public House, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-op Kirkley Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2019 |
| Coffee@The Claremont Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 150 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Eventopia Party Ltd Retailers - other | 211 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Beach Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 324 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| Desmonds Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 405 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2026 |
| Cofetaria Gabriela's Cakes Lowestoft Ltd Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2025 |
| Aspens Services At St Marys Roman Catholic School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Boating Lake Ice- Cream Kiosk Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 June 2010 |
Questions about The Drifter Public House
What is The Drifter Public House's food hygiene rating?
The Drifter Public House has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 1 July 2021.
Is The Drifter Public House 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 Drifter Public House last inspected?
The Drifter Public House was last inspected on 1 July 2021, more than 5 years 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 The Drifter Public House?
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 Drifter Public House compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,318 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and The Drifter Public House is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects The Drifter Public House 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 Drifter Public House 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 Drifter Public House 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 →