Fable Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Epping Forest
Fable Stores holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 2 December 2025, 7 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: Fable Stores, 202-204 High Road, Loughton, IG10 1ET
How it compares in Epping Forest
That puts Fable Stores among the 760 places in Epping Forest holding top marks, 84% 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 | 760 | 84% | ← Fable Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 96 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 36 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 148 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling 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 Fable Stores 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 Fable Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 39 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2026 |
| Corner Shop Retailers - other | 45 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2026 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Eight Rocks Deli & Wine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2024 |
| COOK Retailers - other | 153 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2025 |
| Earthberry Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 197 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Acorns childcare Other catering premises | 206 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Cafe Cassea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 207 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
Questions about Fable Stores
What is Fable Stores's food hygiene rating?
Fable Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Epping Forest Council on 2 December 2025.
Is Fable Stores 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Fable Stores last inspected?
Fable Stores was last inspected on 2 December 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Epping Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Fable Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Fable Stores compare to other places in Epping Forest?
84% of the 910 rated food businesses in Epping Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Fable Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Epping Forest Council inspects Fable Stores 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 Fable Stores and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Fable Stores is one of 214 rated food businesses in Loughton. See every hygiene rating in Loughton →
Epping Forest inspects and rates 1,058 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Epping Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eppingforestdc.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 →