Scarlet Tap food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Portsmouth
Scarlet Tap holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 21 January 2026, 5 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: 80 - 82 Palmerston Road, Southsea, PO5 3PL
How it compares in Portsmouth
That puts Scarlet Tap among the 976 places in Portsmouth holding top marks, 64% 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 | 976 | 64% | ← Scarlet Tap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 311 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 124 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 68 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 53 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 268 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 Scarlet Tap 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.
Questions about Scarlet Tap
What is Scarlet Tap's food hygiene rating?
Scarlet Tap has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Portsmouth Council on 21 January 2026.
Is Scarlet Tap 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Scarlet Tap last inspected?
Scarlet Tap was last inspected on 21 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Portsmouth Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Scarlet Tap?
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 Scarlet Tap compare to other places in Portsmouth?
64% of the 1,534 rated food businesses in Portsmouth hold the top rating of 5, and Scarlet Tap is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Portsmouth Council inspects Scarlet Tap 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 Scarlet Tap and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Scarlet Tap is one of 541 rated food businesses in Southsea. See every hygiene rating in Southsea →
Portsmouth inspects and rates 1,802 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Portsmouth →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.portsmouth.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 →