The Dorset Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Wealden
The Dorset Arms holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 November 2025, 7 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 Dorset Arms Withyham Road, Withyham, TN7 4BD
How it compares in Wealden
That puts The Dorset Arms among the 1,013 places in Wealden holding top marks, 77% 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 | 1,013 | 77% | ← The Dorset Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 218 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 54 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 Dorset Arms 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 Dorset Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withyham Kings Hall Other catering premises | 71 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| Buckhurst Shoot Limited Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 August 2023 |
| Nick The Butcher Retailers - other | 1.0 miles away | 4 - Good | 9 October 2025 |
| Findon Village Pre-school School/college/university | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2017 |
| Hartfield Stores Retailers - other | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2024 |
| Piglits Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2026 |
| Cherry Gardens Farm Shop Retailers - other | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 August 2021 |
| Cherry Gardens Hill Apiary Farmers/growers | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2024 |
Questions about The Dorset Arms
What is The Dorset Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Dorset Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Wealden Council on 13 November 2025.
Is The Dorset Arms 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Dorset Arms last inspected?
The Dorset Arms was last inspected on 13 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Wealden Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Dorset Arms?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Dorset Arms compare to other places in Wealden?
77% of the 1,308 rated food businesses in Wealden hold the top rating of 5, and The Dorset Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Wealden Council inspects The Dorset 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 Dorset Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Wealden inspects and rates 1,362 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Wealden →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.wealden.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 →