Box Southwold food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · East Suffolk
Box Southwold holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 28 March 2023, more than 3 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: Southwold Railway Shop, 27 High Street, Southwold, IP18 6AD
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts Box Southwold 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% | ← Box Southwold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 212 | 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 202 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 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 Box Southwold 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 Box Southwold, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloom Southwold Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 5 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Southwold Fish And Chip Company Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 29 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Jakery Bakery Other catering premises | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2021 |
| Easton Retailers - other | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2026 |
| Adnams Cellar & Kitchen Store Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2026 |
| Roman Catholic Church Hall Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 133 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2009 |
| Doh Pizzeria Ltd Other catering premises | 159 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 March 2024 |
| The Pickled Kipper Ltd Other catering premises | 159 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
Questions about Box Southwold
What is Box Southwold's food hygiene rating?
Box Southwold has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 28 March 2023.
Is Box Southwold 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Box Southwold last inspected?
Box Southwold was last inspected on 28 March 2023, more than 3 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 Box Southwold?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Box Southwold compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,317 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and Box Southwold is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Box Southwold 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 Box Southwold 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
Box Southwold 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 →