5

Douglas Bader food hygiene rating

Pub/bar/nightclub · East Suffolk

Douglas Bader 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 29 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: Douglas Bader Public House, 29 The Square, Martlesham Heath, IP5 3SL

How it compares in East Suffolk

That puts Douglas Bader 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.

Every rated food business in East Suffolk
5 out of 5 1,994 86% ← Douglas Bader
4 out of 5 212 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 202 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 Douglas Bader 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 Douglas Bader, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Duncans Butchers and Bakery Retailers - other at this address 5 - Very good 26 September 2025
Acorns Nursery School School/college/university 40 yards away 5 - Very good 27 January 2025
Lunchtime Company At Birchwood Primary School School/college/university 203 yards away 5 - Very good 1 May 2025
Julia Stuckey @ The Runway Coffee Shop Other catering premises 291 yards away 5 - Very good 17 October 2023
Martlesham Leisure Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 368 yards away 5 - Very good 8 January 2026
Aldi Stores Ltd Retailers - other 368 yards away 5 - Very good 24 June 2019
Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other 424 yards away 5 - Very good 23 October 2018
Home Bargains Retailers - other 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 17 January 2018

Questions about Douglas Bader

What is Douglas Bader's food hygiene rating?

Douglas Bader has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 29 July 2025.

Is Douglas Bader 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 Douglas Bader last inspected?

Douglas Bader was last inspected on 29 July 2025, 11 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 Douglas Bader?

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 Douglas Bader compare to other places in East Suffolk?

86% of the 2,317 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and Douglas Bader is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

East Suffolk Council inspects Douglas Bader 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 Douglas Bader and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

Douglas Bader is one of 52 rated food businesses in Martlesham. See every hygiene rating in Martlesham

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 →