The Fountain food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Cambridgeshire
The Fountain 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 23 January 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 1 Churchgate Street, Soham, Ely, CB7 5DS
How it compares in East Cambridgeshire
That puts The Fountain among the 579 places in East Cambridgeshire 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 | 579 | 83% | ← The Fountain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 65 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 91 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 Fountain 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 Fountain, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aroma Café And Restaurant & Picante Mexican Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 24 September 2025 |
| Ali Taj Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 14 July 2025 |
| Pupa's Shop Ltd (Labas) Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Sabro's Mobile caterer | 81 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Soham Comrades Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2022 |
| The Handy Plaice Takeaway/sandwich shop | 88 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 27 January 2026 |
| Soham Bowls Club Other catering premises | 178 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2024 |
Questions about The Fountain
What is The Fountain's food hygiene rating?
The Fountain has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Cambridgeshire Council on 23 January 2024.
Is The Fountain 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 Fountain last inspected?
The Fountain was last inspected on 23 January 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Cambridgeshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Fountain?
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 Fountain compare to other places in East Cambridgeshire?
83% of the 697 rated food businesses in East Cambridgeshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Fountain is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Cambridgeshire Council inspects The Fountain 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 Fountain 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 Fountain is one of 418 rated food businesses in Ely. See every hygiene rating in Ely →
East Cambridgeshire inspects and rates 788 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Cambridgeshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastcambs.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 →