How often are food businesses inspected?
Higher-risk businesses are inspected more often, roughly every six months at the top of the scale, stretching to two years or more for low-risk premises. Inspections are unannounced, and a business that disagrees with its rating has 21 days to appeal.
Risk decides frequency
Councils do not inspect every food business on the same cycle. Each is placed in a risk category, and the category sets the interval: about every six months for the highest-risk premises, out to two years for lower-risk ones, and longer still for some very low-risk businesses, a shop selling nothing but wrapped confectionery has little to inspect.
Businesses move between categories as they improve or deteriorate. So a long gap since the last inspection is not neglect; it usually means the council considers the business low-risk, which is itself a mild vote of confidence.
Source: Food Standards Agency, “How food hygiene ratings work”
Inspections are unannounced
An inspector does not book an appointment. That is the point: the rating is meant to capture how a business runs on an ordinary day, not how it presents itself when it knows someone is coming.
Asking for a re-inspection
A business that has fixed the problems can ask its council to come back and re-rate it. It must accept the original rating first and have actually made the improvements. Councils will normally not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
There is usually a charge. In Wales and Northern Ireland a fee always applies; in England it varies, some councils charge, some do not. Where a fee is paid the council aims to re-visit within three months of the written request.
Source: Food Standards Agency, “Food Hygiene Rating Scheme: guidance for businesses”
Appealing a rating
If a business believes the rating is simply wrong, it has 21 days from being notified to appeal. That is 21 calendar days, including weekends and public holidays, about three weeks, not 21 working days.
The appeal is not decided by the officer who carried out the inspection. It goes to a lead officer or their deputy, who may be from another authority, and a decision is given within 21 days of the appeal being received.
Source: Food Standards Agency, “Food Hygiene Rating Scheme: guidance for businesses”
The right to reply
Separately from an appeal, a business may submit a right to reply: a written comment published alongside its rating. There is no deadline, it can be submitted at any time up until the next inspection, and the council may edit it only to remove anything offensive or defamatory.
It is often the most informative thing on a venue's record, because it is where a business says what has changed since the inspector left. Where a business has replied, we publish it in full on that venue's page.
Source: Food Standards Agency, “Food Hygiene Rating Scheme: guidance for businesses”
Common questions
How often are restaurants inspected in the UK?
It depends on risk. The highest-risk businesses are inspected about every six months; lower-risk ones every two years; and some very low-risk premises less often than that. Businesses move between risk categories as standards change.
Are food hygiene inspections announced in advance?
No. Inspections are unannounced, so that the rating reflects how the business operates on a normal day.
Can a business pay to improve its hygiene rating?
No. A business can pay a fee for a re-inspection visit, but the fee buys the visit, not the outcome, and it must have accepted the original rating and made the improvements first. The new rating is whatever the inspector finds.
How long does a business have to appeal its rating?
21 days from being notified of the rating. These are calendar days, including weekends and public holidays. The appeal is reviewed by someone other than the original inspecting officer.
What is a right to reply?
A written comment from the business, published alongside its rating on the official record and here. There is no deadline for submitting one; it stands until the next inspection. Councils may edit it only for offensive or defamatory content.
Check a specific place
Every food business in the UK has a published rating. Look up a restaurant, takeaway, pub or shop by name, or browse every council area.
More guides
Ratings and the rules described here come from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland, published under the Open Government Licence. This is general information, not legal advice, the official record for any business is held by the FSA and its local council.