Alcohol Express food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Southampton
Alcohol Express holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 24 May 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: 83B Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GH
How it compares in Southampton
That puts Alcohol Express among the 1,016 places in Southampton holding top marks, 68% 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 | 1,016 | 68% | ← Alcohol Express | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 278 | 19% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 146 | 10% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 218 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 Alcohol 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 Alcohol Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVASK Food Service Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 96 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2024 |
| AMT Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 169 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2025 |
| Abbey Lodge Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 189 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 April 2012 |
| British Broadcasting Corporation Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 367 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 May 2019 |
| Bright Horizons Southampton Day Nursery and Preschool Caring Premises | 415 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Breadford's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| Boots (Unit 6) Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 September 2018 |
| Barraquito Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2025 |
Questions about Alcohol Express
What is Alcohol Express's food hygiene rating?
Alcohol Express has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Southampton Council on 24 May 2024.
Is Alcohol Express 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Alcohol Express last inspected?
Alcohol Express was last inspected on 24 May 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southampton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Alcohol Express?
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 Alcohol Express compare to other places in Southampton?
68% of the 1,486 rated food businesses in Southampton hold the top rating of 5, and Alcohol Express is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Southampton Council inspects Alcohol 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 Alcohol 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
Southampton inspects and rates 1,704 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southampton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southampton.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 →