The Exchange food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Test Valley
The Exchange holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 19 May 2025, 13 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: 14 Market Place, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8NA
How it compares in Test Valley
That puts The Exchange among the 863 places in Test Valley holding top marks, 89% 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 | 863 | 89% | ← The Exchange | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 80 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 20 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 109 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 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 The Exchange 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 The Exchange, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josies Romsey Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 7 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2025 |
| Paws For Thought Cat Cafe Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2024 |
| Cocky Anchor Pub/bar/nightclub | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Cafe Fresh Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2026 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2025 |
| Cult Antiques Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| Grape Tree Retailers - other | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2022 |
Questions about The Exchange
What is The Exchange's food hygiene rating?
The Exchange has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Test Valley Council on 19 May 2025.
Is The Exchange 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Exchange last inspected?
The Exchange was last inspected on 19 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Test Valley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Exchange?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Exchange compare to other places in Test Valley?
89% of the 975 rated food businesses in Test Valley hold the top rating of 5, and The Exchange is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Test Valley Council inspects The Exchange 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 The Exchange 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
The Exchange is one of 212 rated food businesses in Romsey. See every hygiene rating in Romsey →
Test Valley inspects and rates 1,084 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Test Valley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.testvalley.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 →