Top of the Shops Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Cumberland
Top of the Shops Cafe holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 8 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Meadow Road, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 8ER
How it compares in Cumberland
That puts Top of the Shops Cafe among the 2,087 places in Cumberland holding top marks, 84% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,087 | 84% | ← Top of the Shops Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 285 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 258 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
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 Top of the Shops Cafe none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Top of the Shops Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cod & Co Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 6 December 2023 |
| Bethshan Nursing Home Caring Premises | 357 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2025 |
| CCU /ITU Ward Kitchen Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 September 2024 |
| Childrens Ward Kitchen Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 September 2024 |
| Copeland Unit Ward Kitchen Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 September 2024 |
| EAU Ward Kitchen Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 September 2024 |
| Honister (Maternity) Ward Kitchen Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 September 2024 |
| Haven Care Centre Ltd Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2025 |
Questions about Top of the Shops Cafe
What is Top of the Shops Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Top of the Shops Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cumberland Council on 8 February 2024.
Is Top of the Shops Cafe safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Top of the Shops Cafe last inspected?
Top of the Shops Cafe was last inspected on 8 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Top of the Shops Cafe?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Top of the Shops Cafe compare to other places in Cumberland?
84% of the 2,490 rated food businesses in Cumberland hold the top rating of 5, and Top of the Shops Cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cumberland Council inspects Top of the Shops Cafe 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 Top of the Shops Cafe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Top of the Shops Cafe is one of 207 rated food businesses in Whitehaven. See every hygiene rating in Whitehaven →
Cumberland inspects and rates 2,748 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cumberland.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 →