Hesketh Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Lancashire
Hesketh 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 2 March 2026, 4 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: 81 Liverpool Road, Rufford, Lancashire, L40 1SB
How it compares in West Lancashire
That puts Hesketh Arms among the 664 places in West Lancashire holding top marks, 80% 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 | 664 | 80% | ← Hesketh Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 99 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 55 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 99 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 Hesketh 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 Hesketh Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| R Sephton & Son Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2022 |
| Rufford C Of E Primary School School/college/university | 229 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2026 |
| Boathouse Brasserie Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 256 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2025 |
| Manor House Farm Bed & Breakfast Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 259 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2022 |
| Rufford Old Hall Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2025 |
| Alsley Lodge Residential Care Home Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2025 |
| Tastebuds Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2024 |
| Nelsons Farm Shop Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 December 2023 |
Questions about Hesketh Arms
What is Hesketh Arms's food hygiene rating?
Hesketh Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Lancashire Council on 2 March 2026.
Is Hesketh 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 Hesketh Arms last inspected?
Hesketh Arms was last inspected on 2 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Lancashire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Hesketh 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 Hesketh Arms compare to other places in West Lancashire?
80% of the 833 rated food businesses in West Lancashire hold the top rating of 5, and Hesketh Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Lancashire Council inspects Hesketh 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 Hesketh 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
West Lancashire inspects and rates 932 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Lancashire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westlancs.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 →