The Smokin' Elk food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Havant
The Smokin' Elk holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the business met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 29 April 2026, 2 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: 203A London Road, Cowplain, Waterlooville, PO8 8ER
How it compares in Havant
That puts The Smokin' Elk among the 782 places in Havant holding top marks, 91% 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 | 782 | 91% | ← The Smokin' Elk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 64 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 188 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 Smokin' Elk 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 Smokin' Elk, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Express Westons PFS Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2026 |
| Cowplain Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2024 |
| Cowplain Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2024 |
| Bayith Rest Home Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
| Bayith House Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2018 |
| Anns Wombles Nursery Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
| Borrow Centre Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2026 |
| Cowplain Evangelical Church Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
Questions about The Smokin' Elk
What is The Smokin' Elk's food hygiene rating?
The Smokin' Elk has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Havant Council on 29 April 2026.
Is The Smokin' Elk 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 business to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Smokin' Elk last inspected?
The Smokin' Elk was last inspected on 29 April 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Havant Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Smokin' Elk?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Smokin' Elk compare to other places in Havant?
91% of the 860 rated food businesses in Havant hold the top rating of 5, and The Smokin' Elk is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Havant Council inspects The Smokin' Elk 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 Smokin' Elk 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 Smokin' Elk is one of 246 rated food businesses in Waterlooville. See every hygiene rating in Waterlooville →
Havant inspects and rates 1,048 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Havant →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.havant.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 →