Sole Bay Fish Company food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · East Suffolk
Sole Bay Fish Company holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - 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: Fisherman's Hut E22, Blackshore, Southwold, IP18 6TA
How it compares in East Suffolk
In East Suffolk, 86% of rated places manage a 5, so Sole Bay Fish Company sits behind roughly 1,994 nearby businesses. 9% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,994 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 213 | 9% | ← Sole Bay Fish Company | |
| 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Sole Bay Fish Company 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 Sole Bay Fish Company, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samantha K's Farmers/growers | at this address | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 25 November 2025 |
| Mrs T's Fish And Chips Other catering premises | 192 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2025 |
| Salt Shore Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 196 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| The Tea Shed Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| The Parish Lantern Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| The Bell Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 13 February 2026 |
| The Anchor Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 13 February 2026 |
| The Black Dog Deli Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2025 |
Questions about Sole Bay Fish Company
What is Sole Bay Fish Company's food hygiene rating?
Sole Bay Fish Company has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by East Suffolk Council on 18 February 2026.
Is Sole Bay Fish Company safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Sole Bay Fish Company last inspected?
Sole Bay Fish Company 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 Sole Bay Fish Company?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sole Bay Fish Company compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,318 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while Sole Bay Fish Company holds a 4. 213 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Sole Bay Fish Company 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 Sole Bay Fish Company and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sole Bay Fish Company 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 →