The Walnut Tree food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Maidstone
The Walnut Tree holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 8 July 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 234 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8SR
How it compares in Maidstone
In Maidstone, 82% of rated places manage a 5, so The Walnut Tree sits behind roughly 1,136 nearby businesses. 12% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,136 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 165 | 12% | ← The Walnut Tree | |
| 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 Good
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Walnut Tree 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 Walnut Tree, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busy Lizzy Nursery Caring Premises | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2013 |
| Bettys Newsagents Retailers - other | 327 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2016 |
| Avon Manor House Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2024 |
| Busy Bees At Maidstone Oakwood Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2025 |
| Bridge House Fant Oast (NHS Kent And Medway) Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2024 |
| Bower Croft Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
| Barming Fish And Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2024 |
| Caterlink At St Michaels C Of E Infants School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2013 |
Questions about The Walnut Tree
What is The Walnut Tree's food hygiene rating?
The Walnut Tree has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Maidstone Council on 8 July 2024.
Is The Walnut Tree safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Walnut Tree last inspected?
The Walnut Tree was last inspected on 8 July 2024, more than 2 years 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 Walnut Tree?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Walnut Tree compare to other places in Maidstone?
82% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, while The Walnut Tree holds a 4. 165 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects The Walnut Tree 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 Walnut Tree 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 →