No1 South African Shop food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
No1 South African Shop holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 12 March 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: 5 Marlow Drive, Christchurch, BH23 2RR
How it compares in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
A 1 is rare: only 18 of 2,942 rated places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole score this low, about one in 163. By contrast 88% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,582 | 88% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 239 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 87 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ← No1 South African Shop | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 567 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building 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 No1 South African Shop the inspector recorded concerns over 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 No1 South African Shop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth Crown Court Other catering premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2023 |
| Boots Outpatient Pharmacy @ Royal Bournemouth Hospital Retailers - other | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2021 |
| Castle Parade Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 January 2023 |
| Budgens @ Spur End Service Station Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2024 |
| Burger King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| Castle Dene Rest Home Caring Premises | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2025 |
| Avon Stores Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2022 |
| Burton C of E Primary School School/college/university | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2024 |
Questions about No1 South African Shop
What is No1 South African Shop's food hygiene rating?
No1 South African Shop has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on 12 March 2026.
Is No1 South African Shop safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was No1 South African Shop last inspected?
No1 South African Shop was last inspected on 12 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at No1 South African Shop?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 No1 South African Shop compare to other places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
88% of the 2,942 rated food businesses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole hold the top rating of 5, while No1 South African Shop holds a 1. 18 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council inspects No1 South African Shop 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 No1 South African Shop 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 1 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, 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: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
No1 South African Shop is one of 352 rated food businesses in Christchurch. See every hygiene rating in Christchurch →
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole inspects and rates 3,509 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bcpcouncil.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 →