The White Horse Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Mid Sussex
The White Horse Inn holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the pub requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 8 May 2026, 2 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: White Horse Inn, Albourne Road, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9SP
How it compares in Mid Sussex
A 0 is rare: only 1 of 1,249 rated places in Mid Sussex score this low, about one in 1,249. By contrast 83% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,031 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 127 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 60 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ← The White Horse Inn |
A further 115 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Major improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Urgent improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 White Horse Inn the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The White Horse Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossways Fish And Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 271 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2025 |
| Lyona Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 344 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2025 |
| Be: Dog Limited Takeaway/sandwich shop | 363 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2023 |
| Hurstpierpoint Pre School Caring Premises | 412 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Cottis Pre School Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Fuel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Chinese Gardens Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2024 |
| Hop Tub Brewing Ltd Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
Questions about The White Horse Inn
What is The White Horse Inn's food hygiene rating?
The White Horse Inn has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by Mid Sussex Council on 8 May 2026.
Is The White Horse Inn safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The pub may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was The White Horse Inn last inspected?
The White Horse Inn was last inspected on 8 May 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Sussex Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The White Horse Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "major improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "urgent improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The White Horse Inn compare to other places in Mid Sussex?
83% of the 1,249 rated food businesses in Mid Sussex hold the top rating of 5, while The White Horse Inn holds a 0. 1 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Sussex Council inspects The White Horse Inn 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 White Horse Inn 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 0 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Mid Sussex, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Mid Sussex
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The White Horse Inn is one of 100 rated food businesses in Hassocks. See every hygiene rating in Hassocks →
Mid Sussex inspects and rates 1,364 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Sussex →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsussex.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 →