The Half Moon food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Braintree
The Half Moon 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 12 December 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Cole Green, Belchamp St Paul, Sudbury, CO10 7DP
How it compares in Braintree
That puts The Half Moon among the 980 places in Braintree holding top marks, 85% 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 | 980 | 85% | ← The Half Moon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 125 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 111 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 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 Half Moon 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 Half Moon, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Red Lion Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2016 |
| Banhoek Chilli Oil Company (UK) Ltd Retailers - other | 1.8 miles away | 4 - Good | 7 February 2020 |
| Roughacre Brewery Manufacturers/packers | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2022 |
| Roughacre Brewery Tap Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2025 |
| Platform One Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.2 miles away | 4 - Good | 11 September 2025 |
| Clare Ex-Servicemens and Working Mens Club Other catering premises | 2.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 12 February 2004 |
| Maltworks Tea Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2024 |
| Living Well at Trinders Retailers - other | 2.3 miles away | Exempt |
Questions about The Half Moon
What is The Half Moon's food hygiene rating?
The Half Moon has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Braintree Council on 12 December 2024.
Is The Half Moon 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 Half Moon last inspected?
The Half Moon was last inspected on 12 December 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Braintree Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Half Moon?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Half Moon compare to other places in Braintree?
85% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Braintree hold the top rating of 5, and The Half Moon is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Braintree Council inspects The Half Moon 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 Half Moon and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Braintree inspects and rates 1,267 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Braintree →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.braintree.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 →