The Fat Ox food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Ashford
The Fat Ox 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 21 March 2026, 5 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.
98% of rated food businesses in Ashford score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Ashford ratings →
Address: Fat Ox Inn Ashford Road, St Michaels, Tenterden, TN30 6BT
How this rating has changed
The Fat Ox was re-inspected on 21 March 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 21 March 2026 | 5 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Ashford
That puts The Fat Ox among the 1,034 places in Ashford holding top marks, 90% 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 | 1,034 | 90% | ← The Fat Ox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 87 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 107 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 Fat Ox 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 Fat Ox, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| TN30 Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 115 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Shop Around The Clock Retailers - other | 124 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2025 |
| Ruya Kitchen Takeaway/sandwich shop | 130 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2024 |
| St Michaels Fish and Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 188 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2025 |
| Caterplus Services Ltd, Galliford Try, Spires Caring Premises | 232 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2025 |
| Elior UK Holdings Limited, Spires Caring Premises | 232 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2025 |
| Home Farm Childrens Nursery Other catering premises | 334 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2025 |
| Homewood School & Sixth Form Other catering premises | 334 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
Questions about The Fat Ox
What is The Fat Ox's food hygiene rating?
The Fat Ox has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ashford Council on 21 March 2026.
Is The Fat Ox 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 Fat Ox last inspected?
The Fat Ox was last inspected on 21 March 2026, 5 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 Fat Ox?
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 Fat Ox compare to other places in Ashford?
90% of the 1,153 rated food businesses in Ashford hold the top rating of 5, and The Fat Ox is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ashford Council inspects The Fat Ox 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 Fat Ox 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 Fat Ox is one of 102 rated food businesses in Tenterden. See every hygiene rating in Tenterden →
Ashford inspects and rates 1,260 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 →