The Lydden Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Dover
The Lydden Bell 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 2 July 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: The Lydden Bell 81 Canterbury Road, Lydden, CT15 7EX
How it compares in Dover
That puts The Lydden Bell among the 892 places in Dover holding top marks, 82% 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 | 892 | 82% | ← The Lydden Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 113 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 112 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 Good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Lydden 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 Lydden Bell, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterlink @ Lydden Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Carpenters Arms Public House Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.1 miles away | 4 - Good | 28 February 2020 |
| Ashingham House Caring Premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2019 |
| Frys' Farm Shop Retailers - other | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 July 2023 |
| The Bell Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2020 |
| Sladden Farm Manufacturers/packers | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Co-Operative Store Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2022 |
| Wolverton Court Caring Premises | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2018 |
Questions about The Lydden Bell
What is The Lydden Bell's food hygiene rating?
The Lydden Bell has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dover Council on 2 July 2024.
Is The Lydden Bell 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 Lydden Bell last inspected?
The Lydden Bell was last inspected on 2 July 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dover Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lydden Bell?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Lydden Bell compare to other places in Dover?
82% of the 1,086 rated food businesses in Dover hold the top rating of 5, and The Lydden Bell is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dover Council inspects The Lydden 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 Lydden 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
Dover inspects and rates 1,198 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dover →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dover.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 →