The Bell Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Chelmsford
The Bell Inn 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 15 July 2024, 23 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Main Road, Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, CM3 8RF
How it compares in Chelmsford
In Chelmsford, 92% of rated places manage a 5, so The Bell Inn sits behind roughly 1,327 nearby businesses. 6% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,327 | 92% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 86 | 6% | ← The Bell Inn | |
| 3 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 153 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 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 Bell Inn 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 Bell Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastham Caring Premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| St Marys C Of E Primary School School/college/university | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2024 |
| Gate House Kitchen Mobile caterer | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
| Missing Gate Food Trailer Mobile caterer | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| HR Philpot & Son Ltd Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 August 2023 |
| Sainsburys Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2024 |
| South Woodham Garage Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2024 |
| Shaw Farm Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 September 2024 |
Questions about The Bell Inn
What is The Bell Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Bell Inn has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Chelmsford Council on 15 July 2024.
Is The Bell Inn 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 Bell Inn last inspected?
The Bell Inn was last inspected on 15 July 2024, 23 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Chelmsford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bell Inn?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Bell Inn compare to other places in Chelmsford?
92% of the 1,447 rated food businesses in Chelmsford hold the top rating of 5, while The Bell Inn holds a 4. 86 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Chelmsford Council inspects The Bell Inn 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 Bell Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Chelmsford inspects and rates 1,600 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Chelmsford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.chelmsford.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 →