Horse & Groom food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Hastings
Horse & Groom 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 7 March 2026, 4 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 Horse And Groom 4 Mercatoria, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0EB
How it compares in Hastings
That puts Horse & Groom among the 749 places in Hastings holding top marks, 91% 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 | 749 | 91% | ← Horse & Groom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 37 | 5% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 23 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 90 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 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 Horse & Groom 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 Horse & Groom, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanica Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2025 |
| Baltic Retailers - other | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2024 |
| Bonjour Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2026 |
| Breakfast Zone Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 272 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2024 |
| Bistro Albo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 280 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Blue Fish Takeaway/sandwich shop | 281 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2026 |
| Azmar Retailers - other | 289 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2024 |
| Bolthole Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 295 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
Questions about Horse & Groom
What is Horse & Groom's food hygiene rating?
Horse & Groom has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Hastings Council on 7 March 2026.
Is Horse & Groom 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 Horse & Groom last inspected?
Horse & Groom was last inspected on 7 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Hastings Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Horse & Groom?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Horse & Groom compare to other places in Hastings?
91% of the 821 rated food businesses in Hastings hold the top rating of 5, and Horse & Groom is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Hastings Council inspects Horse & Groom 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 Horse & Groom 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
Horse & Groom is one of 325 rated food businesses in St Leonards-on-Sea. See every hygiene rating in St Leonards-on-Sea →
Hastings inspects and rates 911 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Hastings →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.hastings.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 →