The Absent Pony food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · New Forest
The Absent Pony holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 May 2026, 3 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.
93% of rated food businesses in New Forest score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all New Forest ratings →
Address: 2-4 Brookley Road, Brockenhurst, SO42 7RR
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near The Absent Pony
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 it compares in New Forest
That puts The Absent Pony among the 1,172 places in New Forest holding top marks, 81% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,172 | 81% | ← The Absent Pony | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 177 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 68 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 19 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 146 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 Good
- 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 Absent Pony 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 Absent Pony, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aramark at Brockenhurst College Festival Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 35 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Aramark at Brockenhurst College Pranzo Italiano Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 35 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Aramark at Brockenhurst College Starbucks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 35 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Albero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
| Britannia Thai Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2026 |
| New Forest Shortbread Retailers - other | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| The Snakecatcher Pub Pub/bar/nightclub | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2025 |
| Premier Convenience Store Retailers - other | 60 yards away | 4 - Good | 28 October 2024 |
Questions about The Absent Pony
What is The Absent Pony's food hygiene rating?
The Absent Pony has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 16 May 2026.
Is The Absent Pony safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Absent Pony last inspected?
The Absent Pony was last inspected on 16 May 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by New Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Absent Pony?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", 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 Absent Pony compare to other places in New Forest?
81% of the 1,441 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, and The Absent Pony is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects The Absent Pony 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 Absent Pony 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 Absent Pony is one of 87 rated food businesses in Brockenhurst. See every hygiene rating in Brockenhurst →
New Forest inspects and rates 1,587 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in New Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newforest.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 →