The Bay Tree food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Mid Sussex
The Bay Tree holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 6 January 2026, 6 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: The Bay Tree, Unit 28, The Orchards, RH16 3TH
How it compares in Mid Sussex
That puts The Bay Tree among the 1,031 places in Mid Sussex holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,031 | 83% | ← The Bay Tree | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 127 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 60 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 115 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 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 Bay Tree 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 Bay Tree, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holland & Barrett Retailers - other | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 June 2023 |
| Francisco Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2024 |
| Marks & Spencer Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 84 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2025 |
| KFC - Haywards Heath Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 116 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 August 2024 |
| Iceland Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 116 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2024 |
| Chief Chicken Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2024 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 137 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2024 |
Questions about The Bay Tree
What is The Bay Tree's food hygiene rating?
The Bay Tree has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Sussex Council on 6 January 2026.
Is The Bay Tree 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Bay Tree last inspected?
The Bay Tree was last inspected on 6 January 2026, 6 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Sussex Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bay Tree?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Bay Tree compare to other places in Mid Sussex?
83% of the 1,249 rated food businesses in Mid Sussex hold the top rating of 5, and The Bay Tree is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Sussex Council inspects The Bay Tree 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 Bay Tree 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 Bay Tree is one of 337 rated food businesses in Haywards Heath. See every hygiene rating in Haywards Heath →
Mid Sussex inspects and rates 1,364 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Sussex →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsussex.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 →