Hitea food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Reading
Hitea holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 21 June 2024, 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: 25 Queen Victoria Street, Reading, RG1 1SY
How it compares in Reading
A 2 is rare: only 39 of 1,362 rated places in Reading score this low, about one in 35. By contrast 65% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 881 | 65% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 248 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 148 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 3% | ← Hitea | |
| 1 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 155 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 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 Hitea the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Hitea, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sheep Coffee Takeaway/sandwich shop | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 68 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
| 7 Flowers & Tea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2019 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 169 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2025 |
| Boom Battle Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 171 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Anonymous Coffee Co at Thames Tower Takeaway/sandwich shop | 208 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| AKA BBQ Station Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 230 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2025 |
| Baxter Storey at Ernest and Young Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 255 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 August 2024 |
Questions about Hitea
What is Hitea's food hygiene rating?
Hitea has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Reading Council on 21 June 2024.
Is Hitea safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway 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 Hitea last inspected?
Hitea was last inspected on 21 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Reading Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Hitea?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Hitea compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, while Hitea holds a 2. 39 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects Hitea 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 Hitea 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 2 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 Reading, 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: Reading
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Reading inspects and rates 1,517 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Reading →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.reading.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 →