The Penny Farthing food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bexley
The Penny Farthing holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Penny Farthing was inspected on 16 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 3 Waterside, Crayford, Dartford, DA1 4JJ
How it compares in Bexley
A 2 is rare: only 36 of 1,615 rated places in Bexley score this low, about one in 45. By contrast 72% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,155 | 72% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 265 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 140 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 36 | 2% | ← The Penny Farthing | |
| 1 out of 5 | 19 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 151 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Penny Farthing the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Penny Farthing, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear & Ragged Staff Pub/bar/nightclub | 119 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 180 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2024 |
| Age UK Bexley Thursday Activity Day Caring Premises | 267 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Boots The Chemist Retailers - other | 286 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2024 |
| Bexley Drinks And Food Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 January 2024 |
| Barnehurst Golf Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Bird In Hand Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
| Blue Star Express Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2026 |
Questions about The Penny Farthing
What is The Penny Farthing's food hygiene rating?
The Penny Farthing has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Bexley Council on 16 June 2026.
Is The Penny Farthing safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Penny Farthing last inspected?
The Penny Farthing was last inspected on 16 June 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bexley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Penny Farthing?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Penny Farthing compare to other places in Bexley?
72% of the 1,615 rated food businesses in Bexley hold the top rating of 5, while The Penny Farthing holds a 2. 36 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Bexley Council inspects The Penny Farthing 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 Penny Farthing 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 2 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 Bexley, 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: Bexley
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Penny Farthing is one of 114 rated food businesses in Crayford. See every hygiene rating in Crayford →
Bexley inspects and rates 1,766 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bexley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bexley.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 →