The Kings Head food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Mid Suffolk
The Kings Head holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the pub requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 6 February 2026, 5 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: The Kings Head. The Kings Head, Old Market Street, Mendlesham, IP14 5SA
How it compares in Mid Suffolk
A 0 is rare: only 2 of 729 rated places in Mid Suffolk score this low, about one in 365. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 624 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 66 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ← The Kings Head |
A further 122 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Major improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Kings Head the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Kings Head, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendlesham Community Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 October 2024 |
| Mrs Portly's Kitchen Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 October 2016 |
| Brockford Garage Retailers - other | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2025 |
| All Saints Church Hall Other catering premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2024 |
| Beccles Methodist And United Reformed Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2014 |
| Harbour Inn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2026 |
| Landguard Fort Trust Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2021 |
| Larder On The Hill Retailers - other | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 October 2023 |
Questions about The Kings Head
What is The Kings Head's food hygiene rating?
The Kings Head has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by Mid Suffolk Council on 6 February 2026.
Is The Kings Head safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The pub may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was The Kings Head last inspected?
The Kings Head was last inspected on 6 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Kings Head?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Kings Head compare to other places in Mid Suffolk?
86% of the 729 rated food businesses in Mid Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while The Kings Head holds a 0. 2 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Suffolk Council inspects The Kings Head 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 Kings Head 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 0 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Mid Suffolk, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Mid Suffolk
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Kings Head is one of 244 rated food businesses in Stowmarket. See every hygiene rating in Stowmarket →
Mid Suffolk inspects and rates 851 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsuffolk.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 →