Empress of Blandings food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · New Forest
Empress of Blandings 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 18 November 2024, 19 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: Romsey Road, Copythorne, Southampton, SO40 2PB
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Empress of Blandings among the 1,154 places in New Forest holding top marks, 80% 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 | 1,154 | 80% | ← Empress of Blandings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 68 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 138 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 Empress of Blandings 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 Empress of Blandings, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copythorne Church of England Infant School School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2026 |
| Little Oaks Out of School Club Caring Premises | at this address | 4 - Good | 28 November 2024 |
| LE Chateau Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Copythorne Community Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2024 |
| MCJS Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2024 |
| Alford Butchers Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2025 |
| Bartley Junior School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 October 2025 |
| Budgens of Cadnam Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
Questions about Empress of Blandings
What is Empress of Blandings's food hygiene rating?
Empress of Blandings has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 18 November 2024.
Is Empress of Blandings 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 Empress of Blandings last inspected?
Empress of Blandings was last inspected on 18 November 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by New Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Empress of Blandings?
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 Empress of Blandings compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Empress of Blandings is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Empress of Blandings 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 Empress of Blandings and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
New Forest inspects and rates 1,573 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in New Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newforest.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 →