Food hygiene rating

Food hygiene rating

The food hygiene rating scheme is run by the borough in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.

The scheme provides information about hygiene standards in:

• restaurants
• pubs
• cafés
• takeaways
• hotels
• other places you eat out
• supermarkets and food shops

How we calculate ratings

Each business is given a rating following an inspection by a food safety officer. They inspect:

• how hygienically the food is handled
• safe food preparation such as cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage
• the premises such as cleanliness, repair, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
• food safety management and documentation

The rating reflects the conditions found at the time of the last inspection and does not reflect the quality of food or the standards of service the business provides.

A business is given a rating of 0 to 5.

All businesses should be able achieve the top rating of 5. Where a business does not achieve the top rating, the food safety officer will explain to the owner or manager, what improvements are needed.

Search hygiene ratings

You can look up food hygiene ratings for businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Search food hygiene ratings.

You can also check individual businesses when you are out and about by looking for a window sticker showing their rating. Display is voluntary in England.

Re-rating a business

If you make improvements to your business’s food hygiene standards, you can request a new food hygiene rating inspection.

This is sometimes known as a ‘re-rating’, ‘re-rating inspection’ or ‘revisit’.

You’ll need to include details and evidence of what you’ve improved.

We charge £325.50 for re-rating revisits. This is payable by credit / debit card over the telephone. To request a re-rating inspection, please fill in the revisit request form (see below) and return the form to [email protected]

After the inspection, you’ll get a new food hygiene rating. Your rating could go up, down or stay the same.

Submit an Appeal

If you think your rating does not reflect your business’s food hygiene standards at the time it was inspected, you can submit an appeal to the Food Safety Team.

Before you appeal, contact us at [email protected] to understand why we gave you your rating.

How to appeal

To appeal your rating, use the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme appeal form  

You have 21 days (including weekends and bank holidays) from the date of receipt of the notification letter to lodge an appeal

Publish a written response (‘right to reply’)

You can respond to your food hygiene rating:

to explain:

• how your business has improved its food hygiene standards
• anything that affected your inspection result
• The contact details you need will be on the letter that told you what your rating is.  If you cannot find them, contact [email protected]
• Your response will be shown online with your rating.
• You can submit a response at any time
   

Advice for businesses

We offer these services for new and existing businesses:

• new business start-up advice site visit: £231.20
• pre-opening compliance checks site visit: £192.20
• food safety management system coaching visit: £151.00
• how to improve your food hygiene rating advice visit: £226.60

All prices are for 2026 to 2027

Find out more

Read more about the food hygiene rating scheme.