The Clay Cottage food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Rochford
The Clay Cottage holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 March 2026, 3 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: Building A Lubards Lodge Farm, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh
How it compares in Rochford
That puts The Clay Cottage among the 491 places in Rochford 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 | 491 | 83% | ← The Clay Cottage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 65 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 16 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | 1% |
A further 106 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 Clay Cottage 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 Clay Cottage, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downhall Under Fives Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
| Churchill's Fish & Chips/ Serial Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2025 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 August 2024 |
| Centre Oaks Catering Mobile caterer | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2024 |
| Downhall Primary School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2024 |
| Budgens Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2018 |
| Cater Link Ltd School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
Questions about The Clay Cottage
What is The Clay Cottage's food hygiene rating?
The Clay Cottage has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Rochford Council on 13 March 2026.
Is The Clay Cottage 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Clay Cottage last inspected?
The Clay Cottage was last inspected on 13 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Rochford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Clay Cottage?
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 Clay Cottage compare to other places in Rochford?
83% of the 591 rated food businesses in Rochford hold the top rating of 5, and The Clay Cottage is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Rochford Council inspects The Clay Cottage 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 Clay Cottage 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 Clay Cottage is one of 198 rated food businesses in Rayleigh. See every hygiene rating in Rayleigh →
Rochford inspects and rates 697 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Rochford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.rochford.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 →