The Elm Tree food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Waverley
The Elm Tree holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 17 August 2025, 10 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: The Elm Tree Public House 14 Weybourne Road, Farnham, GU9 9ES
How it compares in Waverley
A 1 is rare: only 9 of 960 rated places in Waverley score this low, about one in 107. By contrast 79% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 755 | 79% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 113 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 60 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ← The Elm Tree | |
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 107 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Elm Tree the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Elm Tree, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beagleys Bakery Takeaway/sandwich shop | 34 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Camdenwell's Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2025 |
| Daisy Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2025 |
| Farnham Rugby Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2026 |
| Aldershot Traction Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2023 |
| Farnham Service Station Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
| Bells Piece Cheshire Home Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| Crown Daisy Nursery At Anglesey House & Lodge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
Questions about The Elm Tree
What is The Elm Tree's food hygiene rating?
The Elm Tree has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Waverley Council on 17 August 2025.
Is The Elm Tree safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Elm Tree last inspected?
The Elm Tree was last inspected on 17 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Waverley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Elm Tree?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Elm Tree compare to other places in Waverley?
79% of the 960 rated food businesses in Waverley hold the top rating of 5, while The Elm Tree holds a 1. 9 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Waverley Council inspects The Elm Tree 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 Elm Tree 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Waverley, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Waverley
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Elm Tree is one of 330 rated food businesses in Farnham. See every hygiene rating in Farnham →
Waverley inspects and rates 1,067 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Waverley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.waverley.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 →