Minstead Lodge food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · New Forest
Minstead Lodge 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 9 March 2026, 4 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: Seamans Lane, Minstead, SO43 7FT
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Minstead Lodge among the 1,153 places in New Forest holding top marks, 80% 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 | 1,153 | 80% | ← Minstead Lodge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 69 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 138 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 Minstead Lodge 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 Minstead Lodge, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minstead Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 318 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2013 |
| Minstead Auctions Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 318 yards away | 4 - Good | 10 February 2025 |
| Furzey Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
| Minstead Study Centre School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 12 January 2026 |
| The Trusty Servant Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 November 2025 |
| Minstead Community Shop Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 September 2020 |
| Londis Rufus Stone Service Station Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 October 2024 |
Questions about Minstead Lodge
What is Minstead Lodge's food hygiene rating?
Minstead Lodge has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 9 March 2026.
Is Minstead Lodge 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 Minstead Lodge last inspected?
Minstead Lodge was last inspected on 9 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by New Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Minstead Lodge?
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 Minstead Lodge compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Minstead Lodge is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Minstead Lodge 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 Minstead Lodge 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
New Forest inspects and rates 1,573 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in New Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newforest.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 →