Forest Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · New Forest
Forest Inn holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 25 February 2025, 16 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: Lyndhurst Road, Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 7DU
How it compares in New Forest
In New Forest, 80% of rated places manage a 5, so Forest Inn sits behind roughly 1,337 nearby businesses. 5% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,154 | 80% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 68 | 5% | ← Forest Inn | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Forest Inn 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 Forest Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Tree Lodge Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2025 |
| Ashurst Pre-School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Foxhills County Junior School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2025 |
| Foxhills Infant School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2025 |
| New Forest Child Care Cic Foxhills Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2018 |
| Ashurst Campsite Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2024 |
| ASHA Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
| Merritts Coffee Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 May 2024 |
Questions about Forest Inn
What is Forest Inn's food hygiene rating?
Forest Inn has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by New Forest Council on 25 February 2025.
Is Forest Inn safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Forest Inn last inspected?
Forest Inn was last inspected on 25 February 2025, 16 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 Forest Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Forest Inn compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, while Forest Inn holds a 3. 68 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Forest Inn 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 Forest Inn 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
Forest Inn is one of 18 rated food businesses in Ashurst. See every hygiene rating in Ashurst →
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 →