Sole Bay Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Suffolk
Sole Bay Inn 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 15 August 2025, 10 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: 7 East Green, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6JN
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts Sole Bay Inn 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% | ← Sole Bay Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Sole Bay Inn 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 Sole Bay Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Amor Retailers - other | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| Vertas At Southwold Primary School School/college/university | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| The Swan Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 151 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
| Co-op Southwold Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 161 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2024 |
| Harris And James Store Southwold Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| The Little Fish & Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| The Crown Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 173 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 February 2026 |
| The Black Olive Delicatessen Retailers - other | 176 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
Questions about Sole Bay Inn
What is Sole Bay Inn's food hygiene rating?
Sole Bay Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 15 August 2025.
Is Sole Bay Inn 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 Sole Bay Inn last inspected?
Sole Bay Inn was last inspected on 15 August 2025, 10 months 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 Sole Bay Inn?
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 Sole Bay Inn 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 Sole Bay Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Sole Bay Inn 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 Sole Bay Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sole Bay Inn is one of 88 rated food businesses in Southwold. See every hygiene rating in Southwold →
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 →