The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Tendring
The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) 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 28 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: Flag Hill, Great Bentley, Colchester, CO7 8RE
How it compares in Tendring
That puts The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) among the 775 places in Tendring holding top marks, 67% 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 | 775 | 67% | ← The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 221 | 19% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 105 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 32 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 20 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 124 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 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 The Creek (Formally The Flag 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 The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn), nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foresters Tavern Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 13 January 2026 |
| Barn Cafe and Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 December 2025 |
| The Crossroads Sandwich Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 October 2025 |
| St Osyth Butchers Limited Retailers - other | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2026 |
| Balti House Other catering premises | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 January 2025 |
| St Osyth Preschool School/college/university | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Brewstar Coffee Mobile caterer | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2025 |
| Brightlingsea Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
Questions about The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn)
What is The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn)'s food hygiene rating?
The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Tendring Council on 28 February 2025.
Is The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) 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 Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) last inspected?
The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) was last inspected on 28 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tendring Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn)?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) compare to other places in Tendring?
67% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Tendring hold the top rating of 5, and The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Tendring Council inspects The Creek (Formally The Flag 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 The Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) 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 Creek (Formally The Flag Inn) is one of 18 rated food businesses in Great Bentley. See every hygiene rating in Great Bentley →
Tendring inspects and rates 1,280 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tendring →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tendringdc.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 →