The Plough food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Suffolk
The Plough holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 6 November 2025, 8 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: Plough Inn, Main Road, Sutton, IP12 3DU
How it compares in East Suffolk
A 1 is rare: only 17 of 2,317 rated places in East Suffolk score this low, about one in 136. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,994 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 212 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ← The Plough | |
| 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Plough the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Plough, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodhall Events Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2024 |
| Sorrel Horse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| Poppies Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2026 |
| Vertas At Sandlings Primary School School/college/university | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| ESS Defence - Cost Cutter Shop Retailers - other | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 April 2018 |
| Waldringfield Sailing Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2024 |
| The Maybush Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2025 |
| Waldringfield Village Hall Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2020 |
Questions about The Plough
What is The Plough's food hygiene rating?
The Plough has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by East Suffolk Council on 6 November 2025.
Is The Plough safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub 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 Plough last inspected?
The Plough was last inspected on 6 November 2025, 8 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 Plough?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Plough 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 Plough holds a 1. 17 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects The Plough 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 Plough 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 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 East Suffolk, 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: East Suffolk
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Plough is one of 220 rated food businesses in Woodbridge. See every hygiene rating in Woodbridge →
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 →