The Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Maldon
The Bell 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 9 April 2025, 15 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 Street, Purleigh, Chelmsford, CM3 6QJ
How it compares in Maldon
That puts The Bell among the 517 places in Maldon holding top marks, 88% 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 | 517 | 88% | ← The Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 40 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 27 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 89 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 Bell 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, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purleigh Community Shop Retailers - other | 160 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2024 |
| Purleigh County Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| The Wells Pavilion Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | Exempt | |
| Maldon Oyster Co Ltd Manufacturers/packers | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 November 2023 |
Questions about The Bell
What is The Bell's food hygiene rating?
The Bell has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maldon Council on 9 April 2025.
Is The Bell 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 Bell last inspected?
The Bell was last inspected on 9 April 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maldon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bell?
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 Bell compare to other places in Maldon?
88% of the 588 rated food businesses in Maldon hold the top rating of 5, and The Bell is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maldon Council inspects The Bell 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 and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Maldon inspects and rates 677 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Maldon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.maldon.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 →