Poplars food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Braintree
Poplars holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 22 May 2017, more than 9 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: Clockhouse Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 6RD
How it compares in Braintree
That puts Poplars 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% | ← Poplars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Poplars 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 Poplars, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeyfield Society - Wickham House Caring Premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2025 |
| Boars Head PH Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2024 |
| Bocking Church Street Primary School School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2025 |
| Braintree Sixth Form College (Cafe 6) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2025 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2024 |
| Holland And Barrett Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2025 |
| Iceland Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Jubilee Oak Post Office Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
Questions about Poplars
What is Poplars's food hygiene rating?
Poplars has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Braintree Council on 22 May 2017.
Is Poplars 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 care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Poplars last inspected?
Poplars was last inspected on 22 May 2017, more than 9 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 Poplars?
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 Poplars compare to other places in Braintree?
85% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Braintree hold the top rating of 5, and Poplars is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Braintree Council inspects Poplars 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 Poplars 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 →