The Tavern food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Lewes
The Tavern 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 12 February 2026, 5 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: The Tavern 405 South Coast Road, Telscombe Cliffs, BN10 7AD
How it compares in Lewes
That puts The Tavern among the 740 places in Lewes holding top marks, 85% 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 | 740 | 85% | ← The Tavern | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 89 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 90 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 The Tavern 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 The Tavern, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawa Sushi Takeaway/sandwich shop | 142 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2025 |
| Telscombe Cliffs Service Station Retailers - other | 218 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2025 |
| Smugglers Rest Pub/bar/nightclub | 299 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
| Central Fish Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 394 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2026 |
| Premier Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 414 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Fairlight Manor Care Home Caring Premises | 435 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Homescare Ltd Peacehaven Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| Cater Link at Telscombe C P School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2025 |
Questions about The Tavern
What is The Tavern's food hygiene rating?
The Tavern has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Lewes Council on 12 February 2026.
Is The Tavern 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 The Tavern last inspected?
The Tavern was last inspected on 12 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lewes Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Tavern?
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 The Tavern compare to other places in Lewes?
85% of the 870 rated food businesses in Lewes hold the top rating of 5, and The Tavern is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Lewes Council inspects The Tavern 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 Tavern and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Tavern is one of 18 rated food businesses in Telscombe Cliffs. See every hygiene rating in Telscombe Cliffs →
Lewes inspects and rates 960 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lewes →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lewes-eastbourne.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 →