Food hygiene for businesses

We take part in the Food Standards Agency's national food hygiene rating scheme (FHRS). The scheme helps people choose where to eat out or shop for food. 

How we rate your food business

After a food hygiene inspection, we will give your food business a rating. This is based on your hygiene standards when we visit. 

The scores for all food businesses are published on the national FHRS database:

• 5 is rated as ‘very good’
• 4 is rated as ‘good’
• 3 is rated as ‘generally satisfactory’
• 2 is rated as ‘improvement necessary’
• 1 is rated as ‘major improvement necessary’
• 0 is rated as ‘urgent improvement necessary’

Search for food hygiene rating – Food Standards Agency

Apply for a re-rating

You can ask to have your food business re-rated before the next planned inspection. You may want to apply if your food business has made hygiene improvements following a previous inspection. 

The cost is £250 plus VAT. 

We will re-assess the hygiene standards in your premises, with a view to giving an improved rating. 

Your right to reply

You also have a 'right to reply'. This is different from an appeal. 

You can submit an explanation explaining:

• how the business has improved hygiene
• if there were unusual circumstances at the time of the inspection

We will publish your right to reply online, alongside your hygiene rating.

Your right to appeal

You can appeal if you want to dispute your food hygiene rating.

You should first contact the food officer who carried out the inspection. After speaking with them, if you still think the rating is unfair or wrong, you can appeal.