Ambala food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Waltham Forest
Ambala holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the shop requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 14 March 2026, 4 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 490 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 9AH
How it compares in Waltham Forest
A 0 is rare: only 61 of 1,865 rated places in Waltham Forest score this low, about one in 31. By contrast 51% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 949 | 51% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 427 | 23% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 267 | 14% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 131 | 7% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 61 | 3% | ← Ambala |
A further 131 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Urgent improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Urgent improvement necessary
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Ambala the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Ambala, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arfan Supermarket Retailers - other | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2024 |
| Alytus Retailers - other | 251 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Aspens Services at Barclay's Primary School School/college/university | 425 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2026 |
| Albany Nursing Home Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Aspray House Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Aspens at Thomas Gamuel Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Aspens Services Ltd at Barclay Primary School School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| Aspens Services Ltd at Sybourn Primary School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2025 |
Questions about Ambala
What is Ambala's food hygiene rating?
Ambala has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by Waltham Forest Council on 14 March 2026.
Is Ambala safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The shop may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was Ambala last inspected?
Ambala was last inspected on 14 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Waltham Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Ambala?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "urgent improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "urgent improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Ambala compare to other places in Waltham Forest?
51% of the 1,865 rated food businesses in Waltham Forest hold the top rating of 5, while Ambala holds a 0. 61 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Waltham Forest Council inspects Ambala and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Ambala and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 0 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Waltham Forest, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Waltham Forest
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Ambala is one of 773 rated food businesses in Walthamstow. See every hygiene rating in Walthamstow →
Waltham Forest inspects and rates 1,996 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Waltham Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →