Hards food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Braintree
Hards holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 2 April 2026, 3 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: 37 High Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2AA
How it compares in Braintree
That puts Hards 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% | ← Hards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Hards 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 Hards, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2026 |
| Halstead Costcutter (Premier) Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 1 March 2024 |
| Imjai Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| Munch Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 April 2025 |
| Super Fry Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2024 |
| Cafe Bamboo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 26 yards away | 4 - Good | 30 August 2024 |
| Cinnamon Tree Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Lipstick And Locks Pub/bar/nightclub | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
Questions about Hards
What is Hards's food hygiene rating?
Hards has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Braintree Council on 2 April 2026.
Is Hards 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Hards last inspected?
Hards was last inspected on 2 April 2026, 3 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 Hards?
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 Hards compare to other places in Braintree?
85% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Braintree hold the top rating of 5, and Hards is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Braintree Council inspects Hards 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 Hards and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Hards is one of 127 rated food businesses in Halstead. See every hygiene rating in Halstead →
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 →