The Eight Bells food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Huntingdonshire
The Eight Bells 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 13 August 2025, 11 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: Public House Eight Bells High Street, Abbotsley, PE19 6UJ
How it compares in Huntingdonshire
A 1 is rare: only 13 of 1,380 rated places in Huntingdonshire score this low, about one in 106. By contrast 71% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 975 | 71% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 298 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 86 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ← The Eight Bells | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 159 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 Major improvement necessary
- 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 Eight Bells the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises 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 Eight Bells, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsley Village Hall Retailers - other | 200 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Manor Farm Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
| Bean Theory Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| Waresley Park Garden Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Duncombe Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| MJ Kiddy and Son Retailers - other | 2.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2021 |
| Eltisley Manor Caring Premises | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| One Stop Retailers - other | 2.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2021 |
Questions about The Eight Bells
What is The Eight Bells's food hygiene rating?
The Eight Bells has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Huntingdonshire Council on 13 August 2025.
Is The Eight Bells 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 Eight Bells last inspected?
The Eight Bells was last inspected on 13 August 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Huntingdonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Eight Bells?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", 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 Eight Bells compare to other places in Huntingdonshire?
71% of the 1,380 rated food businesses in Huntingdonshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Eight Bells holds a 1. 13 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Huntingdonshire Council inspects The Eight Bells 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 Eight Bells 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 Huntingdonshire, 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: Huntingdonshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Huntingdonshire inspects and rates 1,539 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Huntingdonshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.huntingdonshire.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 →