Harbour Inn food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · East Suffolk
Harbour Inn 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 18 February 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: The Harbour Inn, Blackshore, Southwold, IP18 6TA
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts Harbour Inn among the 1,994 places in East Suffolk holding top marks, 86% 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 | 1,994 | 86% | ← Harbour Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 213 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 201 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very 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 Harbour Inn 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 Harbour Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints Church Hall Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2024 |
| Beccles Methodist And United Reformed Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2014 |
| Landguard Fort Trust Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2021 |
| Larder On The Hill Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 October 2023 |
| Libardis Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2017 |
| Southwold Sailing Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2014 |
| Vertas At Orford CEVAP School School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2025 |
| Waveney House Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | at this address | 5 - Very good | 2 January 2026 |
Questions about Harbour Inn
What is Harbour Inn's food hygiene rating?
Harbour Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 18 February 2026.
Is Harbour Inn 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 Harbour Inn last inspected?
Harbour Inn was last inspected on 18 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Harbour Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Harbour Inn compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,318 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and Harbour Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Harbour Inn 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 Harbour Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Harbour Inn is one of 88 rated food businesses in Southwold. See every hygiene rating in Southwold →
East Suffolk inspects and rates 2,519 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastsuffolk.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 →