The Rock Inn food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Sevenoaks
The Rock Inn holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the restaurant that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Rock Inn was inspected on 27 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Hoath Corner, Chiddingstone Hoath, Edenbridge, TN8 7BS
How it compares in Sevenoaks
A 2 is rare: only 14 of 854 rated places in Sevenoaks score this low, about one in 61. By contrast 78% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 669 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 118 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 47 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 2% | ← The Rock Inn | |
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 103 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- 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 Rock Inn the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and 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.
Questions about The Rock Inn
What is The Rock Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Rock Inn has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Sevenoaks Council on 27 May 2026.
Is The Rock Inn safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The restaurant 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 Rock Inn last inspected?
The Rock Inn was last inspected on 27 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sevenoaks Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Rock Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", 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 Rock Inn compare to other places in Sevenoaks?
78% of the 854 rated food businesses in Sevenoaks hold the top rating of 5, while The Rock Inn holds a 2. 14 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Sevenoaks Council inspects The Rock Inn 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 Rock Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 Sevenoaks, 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: Sevenoaks
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Rock Inn is one of 61 rated food businesses in Edenbridge. See every hygiene rating in Edenbridge →
Sevenoaks inspects and rates 957 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sevenoaks →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sevenoaks.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 →