Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is run by Surrey Heath Borough Council in partnership with the Food Standards Agency

Businesses are given a hygiene rating when it is inspected by an Environmental Health Officer. The hygiene rating shows how closely the business is meeting the requirements of food hygiene law.

After the inspection, businesses are given one of the six ratings. The top rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards. Any business should be able to reach this top rating.

Find a hygiene rating

Find out the hygiene rating of a business using the Food Standards Agency search (external link).

As part of the scheme businesses can request an appeal, have a ‘right to reply’ and request a re-visit inspection. These requests must be made in writing by completing the relevant online form.

Request a revisit

The business owner/manager can request a revisit to get a new rating when all the necessary hygiene improvements have been made. There is a charge of £225 for this service.

Request a revisit online form

Appeal

Before appealing, please discuss the rating with the officer who carried out the inspection who can explain why the rating was given. Their contact details are on the onsite report left at the inspection or email environmental.health@surreyheath.gov.uk (link sends email). If you still think the rating is unfair or wrong the food business operator can submit an appeal.

Submit an appeal

Right to reply 

The right to reply allows a business to tell customers how the business has improved its hygiene standards or if there were unusual circumstances at the time of inspection. This response will be published online alongside the rating.

Submit a right to reply

Publishing the rating early

You can request that a rating is published before the end of the appeal period. This request must be made in writing to environmental.health@surreyheath.gov.uk (link sends email).

You must include:

• details of who you are
• the name and address of the business
• your contact information
• the date of the inspection
• the rating given

We will review the request and will usually publish the rating early.