Soul Food food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Braintree
Soul Food holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 31 July 2023, more than 2 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: St Andrews Hall, Parsonage Street, Halstead, CO9 2LD
How it compares in Braintree
That puts Soul Food among the 980 places in Braintree holding top marks, 85% 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 | 980 | 85% | ← Soul Food | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 125 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 111 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 Soul Food 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 Soul Food, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braintree Area Foodbank Distributors/Transporters | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2017 |
| HFC Peri Peri Kebab \& Burger Takeaway/sandwich shop | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2025 |
| Double Pistachio Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 56 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| Cafe Bamboo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 102 yards away | 4 - Good | 30 August 2024 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2026 |
| Halstead Costcutter (Premier) Retailers - other | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 March 2024 |
| Hards Retailers - other | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2026 |
| Imjai Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
Questions about Soul Food
What is Soul Food's food hygiene rating?
Soul Food has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Braintree Council on 31 July 2023.
Is Soul Food 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Soul Food last inspected?
Soul Food was last inspected on 31 July 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Braintree Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Soul Food?
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 Soul Food compare to other places in Braintree?
85% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Braintree hold the top rating of 5, and Soul Food is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Braintree Council inspects Soul Food 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 Soul Food and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Soul Food is one of 127 rated food businesses in Halstead. See every hygiene rating in Halstead →
Braintree inspects and rates 1,267 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Braintree →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.braintree.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 →