Tesco Express food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · East Suffolk
Tesco Express holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 23 May 2017, more than 9 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: 2 Queen Street, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6EQ
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts Tesco Express 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% | ← Tesco Express | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Tesco Express 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 Tesco Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coasters Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 5 November 2024 |
| Queen Street Pharmacy Retailers - other | at this address | Exempt | |
| Beaches & Cream Retailers - other | 11 yards away | 4 - Good | 17 February 2026 |
| Little Gems Retailers - other | 39 yards away | 4 - Good | 14 September 2023 |
| Mills & Sons (Southwold) Ltd Retailers - other | 39 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 15 August 2025 |
| Harris And James Store Southwold Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| The Little Fish & Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Jacks Burgers Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 82 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2024 |
Questions about Tesco Express
What is Tesco Express's food hygiene rating?
Tesco Express has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 23 May 2017.
Is Tesco Express 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Tesco Express last inspected?
Tesco Express was last inspected on 23 May 2017, more than 9 years 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 Tesco Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Tesco Express 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 Tesco Express is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Tesco Express 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 Tesco Express 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Tesco Express 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 →