Royal China food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · East Suffolk
Royal China holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the restaurant requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 23 December 2025, 6 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: 152 Bridge Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 9JT
How it compares in East Suffolk
A 0 is rare: only 1 of 2,317 rated places in East Suffolk score this low, about one in 2,317. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,994 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | ← Royal China |
A further 202 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Major improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Urgent improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Royal China the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Royal China, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 142 Cafe And Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2025 |
| Broadview Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2026 |
| Flames Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| Candyworld Mobile caterer | 294 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2024 |
| Bridge Road Mini Market Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2026 |
| Bridge Road Premier Store Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2024 |
| China Garden Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Dinky Town Play Cafe / Enchanted Kingdom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2025 |
Questions about Royal China
What is Royal China's food hygiene rating?
Royal China has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by East Suffolk Council on 23 December 2025.
Is Royal China safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The restaurant may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was Royal China last inspected?
Royal China was last inspected on 23 December 2025, 6 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 Royal China?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "major improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "urgent improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Royal China compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,317 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while Royal China holds a 0. 1 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Royal China 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 Royal China 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 0 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at East Suffolk, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: East Suffolk
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Royal China is one of 573 rated food businesses in Lowestoft. See every hygiene rating in Lowestoft →
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 →