The Fox Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Suffolk
The Fox Inn holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 4 February 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: The Fox, Front Street, Ousden, CB8 8TR
How it compares in West Suffolk
A 2 is rare: only 5 of 1,483 rated places in West Suffolk score this low, about one in 297. By contrast 91% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,349 | 91% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 91 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ← The Fox Inn | |
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 241 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Fox Inn the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Fox Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ousden Village Hall Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 August 2018 |
| Hargrave Village Hall Other catering premises | 1.3 miles away | Exempt | |
| Lidgate Star Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2024 |
| The Greyhound Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| The Barn Butchery Retailers - other | 2.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2025 |
| The Greyhound Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| The Affleck Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2020 |
| Geo E Gittus & Sons Ltd Distributors/Transporters | 2.6 miles away | Awaiting inspection |
Questions about The Fox Inn
What is The Fox Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Fox Inn has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by West Suffolk Council on 4 February 2025.
Is The Fox Inn safe to eat at?
A 2 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 Fox Inn last inspected?
The Fox Inn was last inspected on 4 February 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Fox Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Fox Inn compare to other places in West Suffolk?
91% of the 1,483 rated food businesses in West Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while The Fox Inn holds a 2. 5 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Suffolk Council inspects The Fox Inn 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 Fox Inn 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 2 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 West Suffolk, 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: West Suffolk
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
West Suffolk inspects and rates 1,724 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westsuffolk.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 →