The Clay Cottage

Rayleigh

Food hygiene rating 5 / 5 · Very good

Squeaky clean

The Clay Cottage scored a 5 out of 5 at its last inspection. Tuck in.

The breakdown

Hygiene Good Cleanliness & condition Good Confidence in management Good

Last inspected on 13 March 2026 by Rochford.

Rating over time

We have recorded 2 Food Standards Agency inspections for The Clay Cottage, from July 2018 to March 2026. Its hygiene rating has held steady, from 5 in 2018 to 5 in 2026.

Food hygiene rating (0 to 5) at each FSA inspection of The Clay Cottage.

Food hygiene rating history for The Clay Cottage
Inspection date	Rating	Verdict
6 July 2018	5 / 5	Very good
13 March 2026	5 / 5	Very good

What does this rating mean?

The Clay Cottage in Rayleigh has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good). On the Food Standards Agency scale, 5 is the best and 0 is the worst. Yes - 5 is the top food hygiene rating. It means hygiene standards were very good at the last inspection.

The rating reflects standards found at the last inspection. It is not a verdict on how the food tastes - it scores how well the business manages food safety. How often a place is inspected depends on its risk: lower-rated and higher-risk businesses are revisited more often than spotless ones.

Where is it?

Building A Lubards Lodge Farm,
Hullbridge Road,
Rayleigh,
Essex,

This is the official Food Standards Agency hygiene badge for The Clay Cottage. The data is published by the FSA under the Open Government Licence.

Who inspects The Clay Cottage?

Food hygiene at The Clay Cottage is inspected by Rochford, the local authority responsible for this area. You can reach them at http://www.rochford.gov.uk or [email protected].

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), based on its last Food Standards Agency inspection on 13 March 2026.

When was The Clay Cottage last inspected?

The Clay Cottage was last inspected by Rochford on 13 March 2026.

Is a 5 out of 5 hygiene rating good?

Yes - 5 is the top food hygiene rating. It means hygiene standards were very good at the last inspection.

What do the food hygiene scores mean?

The rating combines three checks made on the day of the inspection: how hygienically food is handled, the cleanliness and condition of the premises, and how confident the inspector is that management will keep standards up. A higher overall score, from 0 up to 5, means fewer problems were found.