The Black Deer food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Epping Forest
The Black Deer 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 27 May 2025, 13 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 Black Deer PH, Poundfield Road, Loughton, IG10 3JN
How it compares in Epping Forest
That puts The Black Deer 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 Black Deer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- 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 The Black Deer 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 Black Deer, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barley Barn Club Caring Premises | 176 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 January 2023 |
| Beechlands Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2026 |
| Bowcan ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2024 |
| C Fresh Catering - Quadient Tech Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Corbett Theatre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2024 |
| Crate Coffee Co Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Chrysalis Nurseries Ltd Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| Cafe Bengal Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
Questions about The Black Deer
What is The Black Deer's food hygiene rating?
The Black Deer has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Epping Forest Council on 27 May 2025.
Is The Black Deer 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 Black Deer last inspected?
The Black Deer was last inspected on 27 May 2025, 13 months 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 Black Deer?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Black Deer 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 Black Deer is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Epping Forest Council inspects The Black Deer 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 Black Deer 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 Black Deer 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 →