The Old Chequers food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Suffolk
The Old Chequers holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 6 March 2025, 16 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: Old Chequers, Aldeburgh Road, Friston, IP17 1NP
How it compares in East Suffolk
In East Suffolk, 86% of rated places manage a 5, so The Old Chequers sits behind roughly 1,994 nearby businesses. 9% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,994 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 212 | 9% | ← The Old Chequers | |
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 202 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 Old Chequers 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 Old Chequers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Efficient Retailers - other | 1.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 12 August 2025 |
| Rather Splendid Events Other catering premises | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2014 |
| The Butchers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2024 |
| Knodishall Food & Wine Retailers - other | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 November 2011 |
| Pear Tree Lodge Residential Home Caring Premises | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2025 |
| Marsh Farm Caravan Site Retailers - other | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 July 2009 |
| Benhall Preschool Caring Premises | 2.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2017 |
| Aldringham Court Caring Premises | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2026 |
Questions about The Old Chequers
What is The Old Chequers's food hygiene rating?
The Old Chequers has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by East Suffolk Council on 6 March 2025.
Is The Old Chequers safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Old Chequers last inspected?
The Old Chequers was last inspected on 6 March 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Old Chequers?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 Old Chequers compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,317 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while The Old Chequers holds a 4. 212 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects The Old Chequers 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 Old Chequers 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 Old Chequers is one of 73 rated food businesses in Saxmundham. See every hygiene rating in Saxmundham →
East Suffolk inspects and rates 2,519 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastsuffolk.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 →