The Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Waltham Forest
The Bell holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
This is a fresh result: The Bell was inspected on 4 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: The Bell Inn 617 Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4NE
How this rating has changed
The Bell was re-inspected on 4 June 2026 and held its rating of 4.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 4 June 2026 | AwaitingInspection 4 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Waltham Forest
In Waltham Forest, 51% of rated places manage a 5, so The Bell sits behind roughly 949 nearby businesses. 23% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 949 | 51% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 427 | 23% | ← The Bell | |
| 3 out of 5 | 267 | 14% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 131 | 7% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 61 | 3% |
A further 131 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 Generally satisfactory
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 Bell 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 Bell, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aytun Mini Market Retailers - other | 94 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2024 |
| Afters Walthamstow Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 124 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2026 |
| Aramark at Waltham Forest College Cafes School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2026 |
| Admiral Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 December 2024 |
| 1st Stepping Stones Nursery Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Alpha Steps Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2025 |
| Aspens Services at Barclay's Primary School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2026 |
| Acorn Day Opportunies Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2025 |
Questions about The Bell
What is The Bell's food hygiene rating?
The Bell has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Waltham Forest Council on 4 June 2026.
Is The Bell 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 pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Bell last inspected?
The Bell was last inspected on 4 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Waltham Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bell?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Bell compare to other places in Waltham Forest?
51% of the 1,865 rated food businesses in Waltham Forest hold the top rating of 5, while The Bell holds a 4. 427 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Waltham Forest Council inspects The Bell 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 Bell 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 Bell is one of 773 rated food businesses in Walthamstow. See every hygiene rating in Walthamstow →
Waltham Forest inspects and rates 1,996 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Waltham Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.walthamforest.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 →