The Sportsman food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Mid Sussex
The Sportsman 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 11 December 2021, more than 4 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 Sportsman Free House, 9 - 11 Cantelupe Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3BE
How it compares in Mid Sussex
That puts The Sportsman among the 1,031 places in Mid Sussex holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,031 | 83% | ← The Sportsman | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 127 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 59 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 116 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very 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 Sportsman 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 Sportsman, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 October 2024 |
| Chocolate Lodge Other catering premises | 86 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2024 |
| Nuba Lounge And Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 June 2026 |
| Mad Dog Coffee Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Holland & Barrett Retailers - other | 95 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 August 2023 |
| Flint Owl Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 96 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
| Cook Retailers - other | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| Heath Botanicals Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 116 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2025 |
Questions about The Sportsman
What is The Sportsman's food hygiene rating?
The Sportsman has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Sussex Council on 11 December 2021.
Is The Sportsman 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 Sportsman last inspected?
The Sportsman was last inspected on 11 December 2021, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Sussex Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Sportsman?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Sportsman compare to other places in Mid Sussex?
83% of the 1,248 rated food businesses in Mid Sussex hold the top rating of 5, and The Sportsman is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Sussex Council inspects The Sportsman 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 Sportsman and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Sportsman is one of 218 rated food businesses in East Grinstead. See every hygiene rating in East Grinstead →
Mid Sussex inspects and rates 1,364 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Sussex →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsussex.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 →