The Old White Bell food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · King's Lynn and West Norfolk
The Old White 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 25 October 2024, 20 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: 20 Upgate Street, Southery, Downham Market, PE38 0NA
How it compares in King's Lynn and West Norfolk
That puts The Old White Bell among the 1,206 places in King's Lynn and West Norfolk holding top marks, 89% 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 | 1,206 | 89% | ← The Old White Bell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 98 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 29 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 147 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 Old White 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 Old White Bell, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southery Playgroup Caring Premises | 184 yards away | 4 - Good | 15 May 2025 |
| Southery Convenience Store Retailers - other | 218 yards away | 4 - Good | 8 April 2025 |
| Southery Academy School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| Denver Cruising Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2025 |
| The Original Factory Shop Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | Exempt |
Questions about The Old White Bell
What is The Old White Bell's food hygiene rating?
The Old White Bell has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council on 25 October 2024.
Is The Old White 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 Old White Bell last inspected?
The Old White Bell was last inspected on 25 October 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Old White 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 Old White Bell compare to other places in King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
89% of the 1,353 rated food businesses in King's Lynn and West Norfolk hold the top rating of 5, and The Old White Bell is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council inspects The Old White 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 Old White 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
The Old White Bell is one of 98 rated food businesses in Downham Market. See every hygiene rating in Downham Market →
King's Lynn and West Norfolk inspects and rates 1,500 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in King's Lynn and West Norfolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.west-norfolk.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 →