The Running Horse food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Maidstone
The Running Horse 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 31 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: Chatham Road, Sandling, Kent, ME14 3AG
How it compares in Maidstone
That puts The Running Horse among the 1,136 places in Maidstone holding top marks, 82% 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 | 1,136 | 82% | ← The Running Horse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 165 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 61 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 65 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 Running Horse 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 Running Horse, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphabets Nursery Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| 14 Forty FM Services - Compass Group Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Arms Apiaries Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2026 |
| Brickmakers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2009 |
| Alfies Fish Bar And Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 September 2025 |
| Aunt Sally's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2025 |
Questions about The Running Horse
What is The Running Horse's food hygiene rating?
The Running Horse has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maidstone Council on 31 October 2024.
Is The Running Horse 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 Running Horse last inspected?
The Running Horse was last inspected on 31 October 2024, 20 months ago. 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 Running Horse?
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 Running Horse compare to other places in Maidstone?
82% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, and The Running Horse is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects The Running Horse 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 Running Horse and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 →