The Owl food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Epping Forest
The Owl 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 23 April 2024, more than 2 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 Owl Public House, Lippitts Hill, Loughton, IG10 4AL
How it compares in Epping Forest
That puts The Owl among the 760 places in Epping Forest holding top marks, 84% 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 | 760 | 84% | ← The Owl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 96 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 36 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 148 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 Owl 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 Owl, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakers Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
| Compass Catering Chartwells School/college/university | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| Chingford Forest Day Nursery and Pre-School Caring Premises | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| Chingford Masonic Hall Co Other catering premises | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
| Bengal Spice Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2023 |
| Aged Persons Home Caring Premises | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2023 |
| Chrysalis Nursery & Pre-school Caring Premises | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2025 |
| Bar One Twenty Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2024 |
Questions about The Owl
What is The Owl's food hygiene rating?
The Owl has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Epping Forest Council on 23 April 2024.
Is The Owl 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 Owl last inspected?
The Owl was last inspected on 23 April 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Epping Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Owl?
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 Owl compare to other places in Epping Forest?
84% of the 910 rated food businesses in Epping Forest hold the top rating of 5, and The Owl is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Epping Forest Council inspects The Owl 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 Owl 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 Owl is one of 214 rated food businesses in Loughton. See every hygiene rating in Loughton →
Epping Forest inspects and rates 1,058 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Epping Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eppingforestdc.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 →