Sussex Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Tunbridge Wells
Sussex Arms 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 26 April 2017, more than 9 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TE
How it compares in Tunbridge Wells
In Tunbridge Wells, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so Sussex Arms sits behind roughly 860 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 860 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 114 | 11% | ← Sussex Arms | |
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 45 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Sussex Arms 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 Sussex Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte's In The Pantiles Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2025 |
| Duke Of York Pub/bar/nightclub | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2025 |
| Eggs Eleven Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2025 |
| Framptons Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 July 2024 |
| Casa Da Claudia Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 362 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2026 |
| Cassidy's Pub/bar/nightclub | 362 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 May 2024 |
| Bamnamu Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 382 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 April 2026 |
| Aura Pub/bar/nightclub | 422 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
Questions about Sussex Arms
What is Sussex Arms's food hygiene rating?
Sussex Arms has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Tunbridge Wells Council on 26 April 2017.
Is Sussex Arms 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 Sussex Arms last inspected?
Sussex Arms was last inspected on 26 April 2017, more than 9 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tunbridge Wells Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sussex Arms?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sussex Arms compare to other places in Tunbridge Wells?
83% of the 1,038 rated food businesses in Tunbridge Wells hold the top rating of 5, while Sussex Arms holds a 4. 114 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Tunbridge Wells Council inspects Sussex Arms 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 Sussex Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sussex Arms is one of 465 rated food businesses in Royal Tunbridge Wells. See every hygiene rating in Royal Tunbridge Wells →
Tunbridge Wells inspects and rates 1,083 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tunbridge Wells →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tunbridgewells.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 →