Merry Mare food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Suffolk
Merry Mare 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 10 April 2025, 15 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: 11A Smithy Close, Rougham, Suffolk, IP30 9LA
How it compares in West Suffolk
That puts Merry Mare among the 1,349 places in West Suffolk holding top marks, 91% 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 | 1,349 | 91% | ← Merry Mare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 90 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 241 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 Very 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 Merry Mare 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 Merry Mare, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spud & Slice Mobile caterer | 185 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 November 2025 |
| Rougham Post Office and Stores Retailers - other | 191 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 January 2026 |
| Bennett Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 207 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2024 |
| Rougham CofE Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2025 |
| Estate Office Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2013 |
| Rougham Estate Farms Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2022 |
Questions about Merry Mare
What is Merry Mare's food hygiene rating?
Merry Mare has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Suffolk Council on 10 April 2025.
Is Merry Mare 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 Merry Mare last inspected?
Merry Mare was last inspected on 10 April 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Merry Mare?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Merry Mare compare to other places in West Suffolk?
91% of the 1,483 rated food businesses in West Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and Merry Mare is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Suffolk Council inspects Merry Mare 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 Merry Mare and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Merry Mare is one of 22 rated food businesses in Rougham. See every hygiene rating in Rougham →
West Suffolk inspects and rates 1,724 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westsuffolk.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 →