The Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Braintree
The 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 10 October 2025, 9 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: Dunmow Road, Great Bardfield, Braintree, CM7 4SA
How it compares in Braintree
That puts The Bell 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 Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 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 Bell, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Between The Lines Retailers - other | 119 yards away | Exempt | |
| Brook Street Butchers Retailers - other | 207 yards away | 4 - Good | 10 September 2025 |
| Brook Street Deli Retailers - other | 213 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Bucks House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 213 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2013 |
| The Vine Pub/bar/nightclub | 213 yards away | 4 - Good | 15 October 2025 |
| Great Bardfield Primary School School/college/university | 434 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2025 |
| Bardfield Montessori Day Nursery Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| Knead Food Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
Questions about The Bell
What is The Bell's food hygiene rating?
The Bell has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Braintree Council on 10 October 2025.
Is The 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 Bell last inspected?
The Bell was last inspected on 10 October 2025, 9 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 Bell?
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 Bell compare to other places in Braintree?
85% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Braintree hold the top rating of 5, and The Bell is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Braintree Council inspects The 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 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
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 →