Department Tea Room food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Cambridge City
Department Tea Room 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 20 September 2023, 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: Institute Of Astronomy Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA
How it compares in Cambridge City
That puts Department Tea Room among the 998 places in Cambridge City holding top marks, 78% 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 | 998 | 78% | ← Department Tea Room | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 198 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 56 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 25 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 187 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Department Tea Room 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 Department Tea Room, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Horizons Wolfson Court Day Nursery and Preschool Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2024 |
| BaxterStorey - Journey Campus Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2021 |
| B&B and The Wedding Marquee Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2023 |
| Arc Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2024 |
| Buttery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
Questions about Department Tea Room
What is Department Tea Room's food hygiene rating?
Department Tea Room has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cambridge City Council on 20 September 2023.
Is Department Tea Room 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 Department Tea Room last inspected?
Department Tea Room was last inspected on 20 September 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cambridge City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Department Tea Room?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Department Tea Room compare to other places in Cambridge City?
78% of the 1,287 rated food businesses in Cambridge City hold the top rating of 5, and Department Tea Room is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cambridge City Council inspects Department Tea Room 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 Department Tea Room and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cambridge City inspects and rates 1,474 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cambridge City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cambridge.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 →