The Marlingford Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · South Norfolk
The Marlingford Bell holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 24 January 2025, 17 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 Bell Inn, Bawburgh Road, Marlingford, NR9 5HX
How it compares in South Norfolk
In South Norfolk, 84% of rated places manage a 5, so The Marlingford Bell sits behind roughly 823 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 823 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 100 | 10% | ← The Marlingford Bell | |
| 3 out of 5 | 39 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 123 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 Generally satisfactory
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 Marlingford Bell 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 Marlingford Bell, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easton And Otley College, Easton Campus Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 22 September 2025 |
| Norwich Family Golf Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2026 |
| Buds And Bloomers Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2024 |
| Prepking Manufacturers/packers | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2026 |
| Flavajam Ltd Other catering premises | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2026 |
| The Rembrandt Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 4 - Good | 17 July 2025 |
| Norfolk Rum Manufacturers/packers | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 August 2023 |
| Weddell And Turner Limited Manufacturers/packers | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2023 |
Questions about The Marlingford Bell
What is The Marlingford Bell's food hygiene rating?
The Marlingford Bell has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by South Norfolk Council on 24 January 2025.
Is The Marlingford Bell safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Marlingford Bell last inspected?
The Marlingford Bell was last inspected on 24 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Norfolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Marlingford Bell?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Marlingford Bell compare to other places in South Norfolk?
84% of the 980 rated food businesses in South Norfolk hold the top rating of 5, while The Marlingford Bell holds a 4. 100 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Norfolk Council inspects The Marlingford Bell 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 Marlingford Bell and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
South Norfolk inspects and rates 1,103 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Norfolk →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.southnorfolkandbroadland.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 →