Old Thorn Barn food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · South Norfolk
Old Thorn Barn holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the hotel met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 January 2025, 18 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: Wymondham Road, Hethel, Norfolk, NR14 8EU
How it compares in South Norfolk
That puts Old Thorn Barn among the 823 places in South Norfolk 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 | 823 | 84% | ← Old Thorn Barn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 100 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 39 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 123 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 Old Thorn Barn 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 Old Thorn Barn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetzy Ltd Manufacturers/packers | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2022 |
| Lotus Group - BaxterStorey Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2026 |
| Norse Commercial Services @ Wreningham VC Primary School School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
Questions about Old Thorn Barn
What is Old Thorn Barn's food hygiene rating?
Old Thorn Barn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Norfolk Council on 7 January 2025.
Is Old Thorn Barn 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 hotel to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Old Thorn Barn last inspected?
Old Thorn Barn was last inspected on 7 January 2025, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Norfolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Old Thorn Barn?
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 Old Thorn Barn compare to other places in South Norfolk?
84% of the 980 rated food businesses in South Norfolk hold the top rating of 5, and Old Thorn Barn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Norfolk Council inspects Old Thorn Barn 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 Old Thorn Barn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
South Norfolk inspects and rates 1,103 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Norfolk →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.southnorfolkandbroadland.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 →