Sophies Express food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Havant
Sophies Express holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the takeaway are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 16 April 2025, 14 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: 28 North Street, Havant, PO9 1PT
How it compares in Havant
In Havant, 91% of rated places manage a 5, so Sophies Express sits behind roughly 782 nearby businesses. 7% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 782 | 91% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 64 | 7% | ← Sophies Express | |
| 3 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 188 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 Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Sophies Express 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 Sophies Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Food Centre Takeaway/sandwich shop | 43 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| Aroma Oriental Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| Boswells Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| AJ's Diner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 128 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 April 2025 |
| Beacon Church Havant Other catering premises | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2025 |
| Ethos coffee & brunch Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2024 |
| Creating Chaos Pub/bar/nightclub | 145 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2023 |
| Café Local Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2024 |
Questions about Sophies Express
What is Sophies Express's food hygiene rating?
Sophies Express has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Havant Council on 16 April 2025.
Is Sophies Express safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this takeaway to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Sophies Express last inspected?
Sophies Express was last inspected on 16 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Havant Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sophies Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sophies Express compare to other places in Havant?
91% of the 860 rated food businesses in Havant hold the top rating of 5, while Sophies Express holds a 4. 64 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Havant Council inspects Sophies Express 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 Sophies Express and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Havant inspects and rates 1,048 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Havant →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.havant.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 →