Smeetham Hall Barn food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Braintree
Smeetham Hall Barn holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 12 June 2015, more than 11 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: Smeetham Hall Lane, Bulmer, Sudbury, CO10 7EU
How it compares in Braintree
That puts Smeetham Hall Barn 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% | ← Smeetham Hall Barn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Smeetham Hall Barn 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 Smeetham Hall Barn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Splinters Outside Caterers Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| St Andrews Primary School School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
| AFC Sudbury Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2024 |
| Ballingdon Hall Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2022 |
| Ballingdon Valley Indian Cuisine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2025 |
| Marnies Bakery Retailers - other | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2020 |
| H Byam& Son Ltd Retailers - other | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2023 |
| Alaz Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
Questions about Smeetham Hall Barn
What is Smeetham Hall Barn's food hygiene rating?
Smeetham Hall Barn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Braintree Council on 12 June 2015.
Is Smeetham Hall Barn 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Smeetham Hall Barn last inspected?
Smeetham Hall Barn was last inspected on 12 June 2015, more than 11 years 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 Smeetham Hall Barn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Smeetham Hall Barn compare to other places in Braintree?
85% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Braintree hold the top rating of 5, and Smeetham Hall Barn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Braintree Council inspects Smeetham Hall Barn 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 Smeetham Hall Barn 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 →