The Ale House food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Colchester
The Ale House 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 13 October 2022, more than 3 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 82 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA
How it compares in Colchester
That puts The Ale House among the 1,200 places in Colchester holding top marks, 89% 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 | 1,200 | 89% | ← The Ale House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 83 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 50 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 302 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Ale House 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 Ale House, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 256 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2023 |
| Bull Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 278 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Chef Canton Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 283 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 July 2025 |
| Bon Appetit Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 290 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2025 |
| Bella's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 308 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| China Chef Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 343 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Bella-Pais Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 423 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2026 |
| BBQ Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 November 2024 |
Questions about The Ale House
What is The Ale House's food hygiene rating?
The Ale House has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Colchester Council on 13 October 2022.
Is The Ale House 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 The Ale House last inspected?
The Ale House was last inspected on 13 October 2022, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Colchester Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ale House?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Ale House compare to other places in Colchester?
89% of the 1,349 rated food businesses in Colchester hold the top rating of 5, and The Ale House is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Colchester Council inspects The Ale House 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 Ale House 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
Colchester inspects and rates 1,651 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Colchester →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.colchester.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 →