The Bunbury Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Suffolk
The Bunbury Arms 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
This is a fresh result: The Bunbury Arms was inspected on 6 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 2% of rated food businesses in West Suffolk score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all West Suffolk ratings →
Address: Bunbury Arms, Ixworth Road, Great Barton, IP31 2NX
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near The Bunbury Arms
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How this rating has changed
The Bunbury Arms has gone backwards: it held a 4 before its inspection on 6 August 2026, and now holds a 1. A rating of 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 6 August 2026 | 4 1 | Worse |
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 West Suffolk
A 1 is rare: only 22 of 1,410 rated places in West Suffolk score this low, about one in 64. By contrast 90% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,271 | 90% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 82 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 27 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ← The Bunbury Arms | |
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 247 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 Bunbury Arms 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 Bunbury Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| B J Cornell & Son Distributors/Transporters | at this address | Awaiting inspection | |
| Country Farm Meats Retailers - other | 412 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
| Freedom Cafe Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2024 |
| Blenheim Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | Exempt | |
| Great Barton Luncheon Club Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2024 |
| Londis Great Barton Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2023 |
| Great Barton Bowls Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 October 2001 |
| Still Good Food Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2026 |
Questions about The Bunbury Arms
What is The Bunbury Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Bunbury Arms has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by West Suffolk Council on 6 August 2026.
Is The Bunbury Arms 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 Bunbury Arms last inspected?
The Bunbury Arms was last inspected on 6 August 2026, a month 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 Bunbury Arms?
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 Bunbury Arms compare to other places in West Suffolk?
90% of the 1,410 rated food businesses in West Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while The Bunbury Arms holds a 1. 22 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Suffolk Council inspects The Bunbury Arms 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 Bunbury Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 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 1,657 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 →