Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · South Cambridgeshire
Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the restaurant 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 23 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: 5 High Street, Fen Ditton, CB5 8ST
How it compares in South Cambridgeshire
In South Cambridgeshire, 87% of rated places manage a 5, so Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton sits behind roughly 1,062 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,062 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 121 | 10% | ← Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton | |
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 95 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton 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 Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azahar Mobile caterer | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
| Bottisham Community Sports And Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2018 |
| Burwell House Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Amber Lodge Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2023 |
| Abbey Food Hub Distributors/Transporters | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2025 |
| BaxterStorey @ Samsung Cambridge Solution Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2025 |
| Bean Theory Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
| BP Teversham SF Connect Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2024 |
Questions about Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton
What is Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton's food hygiene rating?
Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by South Cambridgeshire Council on 23 July 2025.
Is Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton 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 restaurant to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton last inspected?
Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton was last inspected on 23 July 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Cambridgeshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton compare to other places in South Cambridgeshire?
87% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in South Cambridgeshire hold the top rating of 5, while Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton holds a 4. 121 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Cambridgeshire Council inspects Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton 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.
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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 Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton 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 Cambridgeshire inspects and rates 1,316 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Cambridgeshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.scambs.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 →