John Owen Barn food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Colchester
John Owen Barn holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the business met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 31 January 2025, 17 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: Fordham Hall, Church Road, Fordham, CO6 3NL
How it compares in Colchester
That puts John Owen Barn 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% | ← John Owen Barn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 John Owen Barn 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 John Owen Barn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee Shed, Part of The Three Horseshoes Takeaway/sandwich shop | 173 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| The Three Horseshoes Pub/bar/nightclub | 173 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 July 2023 |
| Shoulder of Mutton Tea Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2025 |
| Mill Race Garden Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 October 2023 |
| Swallow Aquatics and The Kingfisher Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 23 June 2025 |
Questions about John Owen Barn
What is John Owen Barn's food hygiene rating?
John Owen Barn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Colchester Council on 31 January 2025.
Is John Owen Barn 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 business to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was John Owen Barn last inspected?
John Owen Barn was last inspected on 31 January 2025, 17 months 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 John Owen Barn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 John Owen Barn compare to other places in Colchester?
89% of the 1,349 rated food businesses in Colchester hold the top rating of 5, and John Owen Barn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Colchester Council inspects John Owen Barn 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 John Owen Barn 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 →