The Black Horse Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Maidstone
The Black Horse 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
This is a fresh result: The Black Horse Inn was inspected on 26 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
94% of rated food businesses in Maidstone score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Maidstone ratings →
Address: Pilgrims Way, Thurnham, Kent, ME14 3LD
How this rating has changed
The Black Horse Inn was re-inspected on 26 August 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 26 August 2026 | 5 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Maidstone
That puts The Black Horse Inn among the 1,147 places in Maidstone holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,147 | 83% | ← The Black Horse Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 158 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 57 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 66 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 The Black Horse 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 Black Horse Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Trotters (Court Farm) Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 August 2026 |
| Cobham Manor Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2026 |
| Detling Community Store Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2020 |
Questions about The Black Horse Inn
What is The Black Horse Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Black Horse Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maidstone Council on 26 August 2026.
Is The Black Horse 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 Black Horse Inn last inspected?
The Black Horse Inn was last inspected on 26 August 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maidstone Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Black Horse Inn?
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 The Black Horse Inn compare to other places in Maidstone?
83% of the 1,386 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, and The Black Horse Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects The Black Horse 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 Black Horse 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
Maidstone inspects and rates 1,452 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Maidstone →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.maidstone.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 →