The Hare & Hounds food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Colchester
The Hare & Hounds 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
This is a fresh result: The Hare & Hounds was inspected on 7 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
96% of rated food businesses in Colchester score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Colchester ratings →
Address: Hare And Hounds, Garlands Road, Layer Breton, CO2 0PN
How this rating has changed
The Hare & Hounds was re-inspected on 7 August 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 7 August 2026 | 5 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Colchester
That puts The Hare & Hounds among the 1,225 places in Colchester holding top marks, 90% 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 | 1,225 | 90% | ← The Hare & Hounds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 75 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 284 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 Hare & Hounds 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 Hare & Hounds, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch C of E Primary School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2025 |
| Essex Care Consortium Caring Premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 August 2026 |
| Smokes Catering Ltd Mobile caterer | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2025 |
| Essex Wildlife Sales Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 August 2026 |
| Marney Partnership Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| Wick Farm Meats Retailers - other | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2026 |
| The Layer Fox Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 20 March 2025 |
| Layer-de-la-Haye Primary School School/college/university | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
Questions about The Hare & Hounds
What is The Hare & Hounds's food hygiene rating?
The Hare & Hounds has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Colchester Council on 7 August 2026.
Is The Hare & Hounds 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 Hare & Hounds last inspected?
The Hare & Hounds was last inspected on 7 August 2026, a month 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 Hare & Hounds?
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 Hare & Hounds compare to other places in Colchester?
90% of the 1,358 rated food businesses in Colchester hold the top rating of 5, and The Hare & Hounds is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Colchester Council inspects The Hare & Hounds 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 Hare & Hounds and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Colchester inspects and rates 1,642 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 →