The Lodge food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Chelmsford
The Lodge holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the care premises are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 13 February 2024, more than 2 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: Little Belsteads, Back Lane, Little Waltham, CM3 3PP
How it compares in Chelmsford
In Chelmsford, 92% of rated places manage a 5, so The Lodge sits behind roughly 1,327 nearby businesses. 6% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,327 | 92% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 86 | 6% | ← The Lodge | |
| 3 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 153 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Lodge 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 Lodge, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belsteads Bungalow Caring Premises | 27 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Greggs PLC Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2025 |
| Ayletts Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2025 |
| Channels Food And Beverage Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2026 |
| Falcon Bowling And Social Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 April 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 June 2026 |
| Elior Fontanella Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Chelmer Valley High School School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2025 |
Questions about The Lodge
What is The Lodge's food hygiene rating?
The Lodge has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Chelmsford Council on 13 February 2024.
Is The Lodge safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this care premises to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Lodge last inspected?
The Lodge was last inspected on 13 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Chelmsford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lodge?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Lodge compare to other places in Chelmsford?
92% of the 1,447 rated food businesses in Chelmsford hold the top rating of 5, while The Lodge holds a 4. 86 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Chelmsford Council inspects The Lodge 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 Lodge 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 Lodge is one of 18 rated food businesses in Little Waltham. See every hygiene rating in Little Waltham →
Chelmsford inspects and rates 1,600 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Chelmsford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.chelmsford.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 →