The Walnut Tree food hygiene rating

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 21 March 2019, more than 7 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.

Address: The Walnut Tree. The Walnut Tree, Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket, IP14 1NE

How it compares in Mid Suffolk

That puts The Walnut Tree among the 625 places in Mid 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.

A further 121 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 Walnut Tree 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.

Understanding this rating

• How often are food businesses inspected? Higher-risk businesses are inspected more often, roughly every six months at the top of the scale, stretching to two years or more for low-risk premises. Inspections are unannounced, and a business that disagrees with its rating has 21 days to appeal.
• What does a 0 food hygiene rating mean? A 0 means the inspector found serious problems and urgent improvement is necessary. It is the lowest rating the scheme gives, but it is not a closure order, and a business with a 0 can, and usually does, keep trading while it puts things right.
• Does a low hygiene rating mean the food is unsafe? A low rating tells you that an inspector found problems on a particular day. It is not a measurement of the food, it is not a prediction, and it is not a verdict on whether you will get ill. It is the best single signal a member of the public has, and it is a snapshot.

More food hygiene ratings near here

The Walnut Tree 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/