Direct Caterers food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · South Cambridgeshire
Direct Caterers holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the takeaway requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Direct Caterers was inspected on 22 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Unit 1 Watsons Yard High Street, Cottenham, CB24 8RX
How it compares in South Cambridgeshire
A 0 is rare: only 2 of 1,221 rated places in South Cambridgeshire score this low, about one in 611. By contrast 87% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,062 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 121 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ← Direct Caterers |
A further 95 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Urgent improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Urgent 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 Direct Caterers the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, 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 Direct Caterers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curry Palace Takeaway/sandwich shop | 185 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2026 |
| The Hop Bind Pub/bar/nightclub | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2023 |
| Les Ward Ltd Retailers - other | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2021 |
| Waggon & Horses Pub/bar/nightclub | 353 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 December 2024 |
| Baked Coffee shop ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 361 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2025 |
| Cottenham Community Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 434 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2022 |
| Co-Operative Retail Services Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
| Rumbles fish bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2024 |
Questions about Direct Caterers
What is Direct Caterers's food hygiene rating?
Direct Caterers has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by South Cambridgeshire Council on 22 May 2026.
Is Direct Caterers safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The takeaway may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was Direct Caterers last inspected?
Direct Caterers was last inspected on 22 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Cambridgeshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Direct Caterers?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "urgent improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "urgent improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Direct Caterers compare to other places in South Cambridgeshire?
87% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in South Cambridgeshire hold the top rating of 5, while Direct Caterers holds a 0. 2 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Cambridgeshire Council inspects Direct Caterers 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 Direct Caterers 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 0 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 South Cambridgeshire, 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: South Cambridgeshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Direct Caterers is one of 29 rated food businesses in Cottenham. See every hygiene rating in Cottenham →
South Cambridgeshire inspects and rates 1,316 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Cambridgeshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.scambs.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 →