The Stepping Stones food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Derbyshire Dales
The Stepping Stones 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 Stepping Stones was inspected on 23 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
85% of rated food businesses in Derbyshire Dales score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Derbyshire Dales ratings →
Address: Carnation Way, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1AY
How this rating has changed
The Stepping Stones has improved: it was rated 4 before its inspection on 23 July 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 23 July 2026 | 4 5 | Improved |
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 Derbyshire Dales
That puts The Stepping Stones among the 536 places in Derbyshire Dales holding top marks, 65% 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 | 536 | 65% | ← The Stepping Stones | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 169 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 88 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 25 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 84 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Stepping Stones, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2024 |
| Marks & Spencer Simply Foods Retailers - other | 426 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2025 |
| Poundland Retailers - other | 426 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2025 |
| Ashbourne Elim Pentecostal Church Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 7 May 2025 |
| Cock Inn Public House Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 18 December 2024 |
| Clifton Church Of England Controlled Primary School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 10 December 2024 |
| St Oswalds C Of E Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 April 2025 |
| St Oswalds Hospital Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
Questions about The Stepping Stones
What is The Stepping Stones's food hygiene rating?
The Stepping Stones has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Derbyshire Dales Council on 23 July 2026.
Is The Stepping Stones 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 Stepping Stones last inspected?
The Stepping Stones was last inspected on 23 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Derbyshire Dales Council rather than by the business.
How does The Stepping Stones compare to other places in Derbyshire Dales?
65% of the 831 rated food businesses in Derbyshire Dales hold the top rating of 5, and The Stepping Stones is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Derbyshire Dales Council inspects The Stepping Stones 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 Stepping Stones 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
The Stepping Stones is one of 107 rated food businesses in Ashbourne. See every hygiene rating in Ashbourne →
Derbyshire Dales inspects and rates 915 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Derbyshire Dales →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/fhrs
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 →