Headless Drummer food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Wealden
Headless Drummer 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
This is a fresh result: Headless Drummer was inspected on 21 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
95% of rated food businesses in Wealden score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Wealden ratings →
Address: Herstmonceux Castle Wartling Road, Wartling, BN27 1RN
How it compares in Wealden
That puts Headless Drummer among the 1,048 places in Wealden holding top marks, 79% 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 | 1,048 | 79% | ← Headless Drummer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 210 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 73 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 39 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 Headless Drummer 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 Headless Drummer, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuthatch Kitchen & Terrace Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2026 |
| PGL Activity Centre Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2026 |
| The Fishing Lodge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Windmill Hill post office and stores Retailers - other | 1.1 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 23 July 2026 |
| Butlers Farmhouse Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2024 |
| The Secret Vineyard Other catering premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
| Pevensey Cheese Company Limited Manufacturers/packers | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| The Little Bake Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2025 |
Questions about Headless Drummer
What is Headless Drummer's food hygiene rating?
Headless Drummer has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Wealden Council on 21 July 2026.
Is Headless Drummer 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 Headless Drummer last inspected?
Headless Drummer was last inspected on 21 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Wealden Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Headless Drummer?
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 Headless Drummer compare to other places in Wealden?
79% of the 1,335 rated food businesses in Wealden hold the top rating of 5, and Headless Drummer is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Wealden Council inspects Headless Drummer 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 Headless Drummer and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Wealden inspects and rates 1,374 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Wealden →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.wealden.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 →