The Rusty Axe food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Somerset
The Rusty Axe 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 17 April 2025, 14 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: Stembridge, Martock, TA12 6BL
How it compares in Somerset
That puts The Rusty Axe among the 4,826 places in Somerset holding top marks, 88% 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 | 4,826 | 88% | ← The Rusty Axe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 540 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 92 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 26 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 557 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 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 Rusty Axe 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 Rusty Axe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsbury Episcopi Pre-School Caring Premises | 429 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2026 |
| Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School School/college/university | 429 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2026 |
| The Willows Childcare Breakfast and After School Club School/college/university | 429 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2021 |
| The Potting Shed Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Sarah Langley Events Other catering premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2026 |
| Somerset Cider Brandy Co Ltd (Cider Bus) Manufacturers/packers | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 August 2021 |
| Kingsbury Community Centre Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2022 |
| Kingsbury Community Shop Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 November 2025 |
Questions about The Rusty Axe
What is The Rusty Axe's food hygiene rating?
The Rusty Axe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Somerset Council on 17 April 2025.
Is The Rusty Axe 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 Rusty Axe last inspected?
The Rusty Axe was last inspected on 17 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Somerset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Rusty Axe?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Rusty Axe compare to other places in Somerset?
88% of the 5,515 rated food businesses in Somerset hold the top rating of 5, and The Rusty Axe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Somerset Council inspects The Rusty Axe 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 Rusty Axe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Rusty Axe is one of 50 rated food businesses in Martock. See every hygiene rating in Martock →
Somerset inspects and rates 6,072 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Somerset →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.somerset.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 →