Nelson Head Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Norfolk
Nelson Head Inn holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 21 August 2025, 10 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: Nelson Head, The Street, Horsey, NR29 4AD
How it compares in North Norfolk
A 1 is rare: only 4 of 1,461 rated places in North Norfolk score this low, about one in 365. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,257 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 143 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ← Nelson Head Inn | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 56 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Nelson Head Inn the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Nelson Head Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poppyland Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2025 |
| National Trust - Horsey Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
| The Old Chapel Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
Questions about Nelson Head Inn
What is Nelson Head Inn's food hygiene rating?
Nelson Head Inn has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by North Norfolk Council on 21 August 2025.
Is Nelson Head Inn safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Nelson Head Inn last inspected?
Nelson Head Inn was last inspected on 21 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Norfolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Nelson Head Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Nelson Head Inn compare to other places in North Norfolk?
86% of the 1,461 rated food businesses in North Norfolk hold the top rating of 5, while Nelson Head Inn holds a 1. 4 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
North Norfolk Council inspects Nelson Head Inn 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 Nelson Head Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at North Norfolk, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: North Norfolk
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
North Norfolk inspects and rates 1,517 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Norfolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northnorfolk.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 →