The Dering Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Ashford
The Dering 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 18 July 2025, 11 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 Dering Arms The Grove, Pluckley, TN27 0RR
How it compares in Ashford
That puts The Dering Arms among the 1,039 places in Ashford holding top marks, 89% 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 | 1,039 | 89% | ← The Dering Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 90 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 106 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 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 Dering 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 Dering Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| Espresso Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2025 |
| Eynsford Riverside Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2024 |
| Loring Hall Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2024 |
| Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2026 |
| Sainsbury's Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 August 2024 |
| Tesco Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2024 |
Questions about The Dering Arms
What is The Dering Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Dering Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ashford Council on 18 July 2025.
Is The Dering 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 Dering Arms last inspected?
The Dering Arms was last inspected on 18 July 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Ashford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Dering Arms?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Dering Arms compare to other places in Ashford?
89% of the 1,162 rated food businesses in Ashford hold the top rating of 5, and The Dering Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ashford Council inspects The Dering 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 Dering 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
Ashford inspects and rates 1,268 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Ashford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.ashford.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 →