The Eight Bells food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Tunbridge Wells
The Eight Bells 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 17 July 2024, 23 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Eight Bells, The Moor, Hawkhurst, TN18 4NX
How it compares in Tunbridge Wells
That puts The Eight Bells among the 860 places in Tunbridge Wells holding top marks, 83% 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 | 860 | 83% | ← The Eight Bells | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 114 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 45 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 Eight Bells 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 Eight Bells, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Weald Wine Cellars Retailers - other | 382 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 February 2022 |
| Happy Garden Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| Hawkhurst Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2024 |
| Hawkhurst Cafe Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2024 |
| Hawkhurst Local Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 24 September 2025 |
| Lovely's Of Hawkhurst Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 23 February 2026 |
| Galliford Try - Bowles Lodge Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 October 2025 |
| Zan Chinese Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 11 June 2025 |
Questions about The Eight Bells
What is The Eight Bells's food hygiene rating?
The Eight Bells has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Tunbridge Wells Council on 17 July 2024.
Is The Eight Bells 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 Eight Bells last inspected?
The Eight Bells was last inspected on 17 July 2024, 23 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tunbridge Wells 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 "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 Eight Bells compare to other places in Tunbridge Wells?
83% of the 1,038 rated food businesses in Tunbridge Wells hold the top rating of 5, and The Eight Bells is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Tunbridge Wells 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.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Eight Bells is one of 131 rated food businesses in Cranbrook. See every hygiene rating in Cranbrook →
Tunbridge Wells inspects and rates 1,083 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tunbridge Wells →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tunbridgewells.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 →