The Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Braintree
The Bell holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 21 June 2023, more than 3 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: Mountbatten Road, Braintree, Essex, CM7 9UL
How it compares in Braintree
In Braintree, 85% of rated places manage a 5, so The Bell sits behind roughly 980 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 980 | 85% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 125 | 11% | ← The Bell | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bradfords Infant And Nursery School School/college/university | 262 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2025 |
| Great Bradfords Junior School School/college/university | 262 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| CMXSC @ Great Bradfords Junior School School/college/university | 292 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2024 |
| Kilkee Lodge Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2025 |
| Alec Hunter Preschool School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2019 |
| Braintree Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2025 |
| C J Eley & Co Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2016 |
Questions about The Bell
What is The Bell's food hygiene rating?
The Bell has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Braintree Council on 21 June 2023.
Is The Bell safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Bell last inspected?
The Bell was last inspected on 21 June 2023, more than 3 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 The Bell?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Bell compare to other places in Braintree?
85% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Braintree hold the top rating of 5, while The Bell holds a 4. 125 places in the area share that rating.
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 →