The Compasses food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Chelmsford
The Compasses 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 25 July 2025, 11 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: Littley Green Road, Great Waltham, Chelmsford, CM3 1BU
How it compares in Chelmsford
That puts The Compasses among the 1,327 places in Chelmsford holding top marks, 92% 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 | 1,327 | 92% | ← The Compasses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 86 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 153 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 Very 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 Compasses 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 Compasses, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leez Priory Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 April 2026 |
| The Hub - Farm Shop \& Light Bites Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2026 |
| Herts And Essex Shooting Association Other catering premises | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2025 |
| The Belsteads School School/college/university | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2025 |
| Galvin Green Man Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
| The Windmill Chatham Green Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2026 |
| The Castle Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 November 2024 |
| Great Leighs Village Store Retailers - other | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2025 |
Questions about The Compasses
What is The Compasses's food hygiene rating?
The Compasses has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Chelmsford Council on 25 July 2025.
Is The Compasses 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 Compasses last inspected?
The Compasses was last inspected on 25 July 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Chelmsford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Compasses?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Compasses compare to other places in Chelmsford?
92% of the 1,447 rated food businesses in Chelmsford hold the top rating of 5, and The Compasses is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Chelmsford Council inspects The Compasses 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 Compasses and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Chelmsford inspects and rates 1,600 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Chelmsford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.chelmsford.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 →