Monks Head food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Tonbridge and Malling
Monks Head 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 1 April 2026, 3 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: 44 New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, Aylesford, ME20 6PN
How it compares in Tonbridge and Malling
That puts Monks Head among the 771 places in Tonbridge and Malling 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 | 771 | 80% | ← Monks Head | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 123 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 56 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 84 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 Monks Head 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 Monks Head, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur's Family Butchers Retailers - other | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2026 |
| Dawn To Dusk Day Nursery Caring Premises | 160 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Best Wok Takeaway/sandwich shop | 168 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2025 |
| Alim-Et Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 198 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2025 |
| Brookfield Breakfast Club School/college/university | 343 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2023 |
| Flourish Food At Brookfield Infant School School/college/university | 343 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2024 |
| Flourish Food At Brookfield Junior School School/college/university | 343 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2024 |
| BaxterStorey Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
Questions about Monks Head
What is Monks Head's food hygiene rating?
Monks Head has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Tonbridge and Malling Council on 1 April 2026.
Is Monks Head 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 Monks Head last inspected?
Monks Head was last inspected on 1 April 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tonbridge and Malling Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Monks Head?
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 Monks Head compare to other places in Tonbridge and Malling?
80% of the 968 rated food businesses in Tonbridge and Malling hold the top rating of 5, and Monks Head is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Tonbridge and Malling Council inspects Monks Head 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 Monks Head and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Monks Head is one of 119 rated food businesses in Aylesford. See every hygiene rating in Aylesford →
Tonbridge and Malling inspects and rates 1,052 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tonbridge and Malling →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tmbc.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 →