The Poachers Pocket food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Suffolk
The Poachers Pocket 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 4 November 2024, 20 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Poachers Pocket Inn, Rosemary Lane, Kelsale cum Carlton, IP17 2QS
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts The Poachers Pocket 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 Poachers Pocket | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Poachers Pocket 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 Poachers Pocket, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunchtime Company Ltd At Kelsale Primary School School/college/university | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2025 |
| Willow Tree Cottage B&B Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 May 2010 |
| Kelsale Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2023 |
| Saxmundham Sports And Recreational Ground Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2018 |
| Lunchtime Company Ltd At Saxmundham Primary School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Swann House Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2019 |
| Carlton Meres Holiday Park Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2024 |
| Pear Tree Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2025 |
Questions about The Poachers Pocket
What is The Poachers Pocket's food hygiene rating?
The Poachers Pocket has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 4 November 2024.
Is The Poachers Pocket 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 Poachers Pocket last inspected?
The Poachers Pocket was last inspected on 4 November 2024, 20 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 The Poachers Pocket?
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 The Poachers Pocket 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 Poachers Pocket is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects The Poachers Pocket 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 Poachers Pocket 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 Poachers Pocket is one of 73 rated food businesses in Saxmundham. See every hygiene rating in Saxmundham →
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 →