The Axe And Compasses food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Uttlesford
The Axe And Compasses 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 18 February 2026, 4 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: Arkesden, Saffron Walden, CB11 4EX
How it compares in Uttlesford
In Uttlesford, 90% of rated places manage a 5, so The Axe And Compasses sits behind roughly 583 nearby businesses. 7% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 583 | 90% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 43 | 7% | ← The Axe And Compasses | |
| 3 out of 5 | 13 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 159 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 Generally satisfactory
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 Axe And Compasses 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 Axe And Compasses, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cricketers Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
| Ananta Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.2 miles away | 4 - Good | 28 November 2025 |
| Clavering Village Hall Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | Exempt | |
| The Fox & Hounds Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2025 |
| Ostlers Manufacturers/packers | 1.6 miles away | Exempt | |
| The Mixing Shed Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2026 |
| Julie's Cooking Academy School/college/university | 1.7 miles away | Awaiting inspection | |
| The Loaf Tin Bakery Retailers - other | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2024 |
Questions about The Axe And Compasses
What is The Axe And Compasses's food hygiene rating?
The Axe And Compasses has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Uttlesford Council on 18 February 2026.
Is The Axe And Compasses 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 Axe And Compasses last inspected?
The Axe And Compasses was last inspected on 18 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Uttlesford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Axe And Compasses?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Axe And Compasses compare to other places in Uttlesford?
90% of the 650 rated food businesses in Uttlesford hold the top rating of 5, while The Axe And Compasses holds a 4. 43 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Uttlesford Council inspects The Axe And Compasses 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 Axe And Compasses 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 Axe And Compasses is one of 212 rated food businesses in Saffron Walden. See every hygiene rating in Saffron Walden →
Uttlesford inspects and rates 809 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Uttlesford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.uttlesford.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 →