Warrington Borough Council participates in the Food Standard’s Agency Food Hygiene Rating Scheme helping consumers choose where to eat or shop for food.

You can check a Business’ Food Hygiene Rating here:

Search for ratings | Food Standards Agency

Information is refreshed every 2 weeks.

Food businesses need to register with the council. If a business has registered but not yet been inspected then they will appear as awaiting inspection otherwise the most recent inspection rating will be between 0 and 5.

5 rated premises will be updated at the next upload. Premises rated at 0-4 will be uploaded after approximately 5 weeks to give the business an opportunity to appeal if they wish to,

The scores are:

  • 5 - very good
  • 4 - good
  • 3 - generally satisfactory
  • 2 - improvement necessary
  • 1 - major improvement necessary
  • 0 - urgent improvement necessary

The score is only a reflection of the conditions found at the time of the visit and does not reflect on food quality, taste etc. Currently it is voluntary for a business in England to display it’s rating.

Information for businesses

Request an early publication of ratings

The business owner or manager can request that a score is published before the end of the appeal period by emailing Environmental.Health@Warrington.gov.uk with their business name and contact details. The Council will review the request and will usually publish the rating early.

Apply for a re-inspection

If a food business has made improvements to hygiene standards that the food officer discussed at their planned inspection they can ask for a re-visit before the next planned inspection.

The cost of this service is: £219.23

An unannounced visit will be made within 3 months of your application. If the original score reflects the need to improve Food Management then the national guidance states that the Council should delay the inspection towards the end of this three month period.

In the meantime the score will be published as normal.

To apply for this service please complete the attached form and return it to Environmental.Health@Warrington.gov.uk you will be asked to call 01925 442588 to make payment. The Council will check that your application to ensure that you have explained the improvements you have made before arranging the re-inspection.

You can find a full list of our fees by visiting our fees and charges page

Right to reply

The business owner or manager also has a 'right to reply'. This is different from an appeal. The owner or manager can submit an explanation on how the business has improved hygiene or to say if there were unusual circumstances at the time of the inspection. A business's right to reply will be published online by the Council alongside the business's hygiene rating.

Appeal

There is an appeals process if a business wants to dispute the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme given by an inspecting officer.

The business owner or manager can contact the Council's food officer that  carried out the inspection about out the rating received. If the business owner or manager still thinks the rating is unfair or wrong, they can appeal by completing and returning the attached form within 21 days of the visit.

Find out more

You can read more about the safeguards in place in the operation of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme here: FHRS Safeguards - Amended guidance for FBO October 2016 (food.gov.uk)

8 August 2023