The Six Bells food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Babergh
The Six Bells 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
This is a fresh result: The Six Bells was inspected on 13 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
95% of rated food businesses in Babergh score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Babergh ratings →
Address: The Six Bells. The Six Bells, The Street, Preston St Mary, CO10 9NG
How this rating has changed
The Six Bells has improved: it was rated 4 before its inspection on 13 August 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 13 August 2026 | 4 5 | Improved |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Babergh
That puts The Six Bells among the 689 places in Babergh holding top marks, 87% 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 | 689 | 87% | ← The Six Bells | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 61 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 89 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 The Six Bells 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 Six Bells, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cock Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 26 February 2026 |
| Laxfield House Ltd Caring Premises | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2025 |
| The Salvation Army Other catering premises | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2023 |
| Old Buckenham Hall School/college/university | 1.8 miles away | 4 - Good | 27 February 2026 |
| Monday Lunch Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 July 2021 |
| The Great House Lavenham Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 November 2025 |
| A.R. Heeks & Son Retailers - other | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Sparling & Faiers Retailers - other | 1.9 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 1 May 2025 |
Questions about The Six Bells
What is The Six Bells's food hygiene rating?
The Six Bells has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Babergh Council on 13 August 2026.
Is The Six Bells 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 Six Bells last inspected?
The Six Bells was last inspected on 13 August 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Babergh Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Six Bells?
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 The Six Bells compare to other places in Babergh?
87% of the 791 rated food businesses in Babergh hold the top rating of 5, and The Six Bells is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Babergh Council inspects The Six Bells 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 Six Bells 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
The Six Bells is one of 309 rated food businesses in Sudbury. See every hygiene rating in Sudbury →
Babergh inspects and rates 880 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Babergh →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.babergh.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 →