Essence food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Trafford
Essence holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the restaurant and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Essence was inspected on 21 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 83 Manchester Road, Altrincham, WA14 4RJ
How it compares in Trafford
A 1 is rare: only 24 of 1,982 rated places in Trafford score this low, about one in 83. By contrast 81% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,611 | 81% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 216 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 87 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ← Essence | |
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 209 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major 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 Essence 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 Essence, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biryani & Crispy Hub Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 6 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| 1805 Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2026 |
| Atlantic Bowl Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 277 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2026 |
| Aldi Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 280 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2025 |
| Bridgewater Nursery Caring Premises | 297 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2025 |
| Altrincham Day Nursery Caring Premises | 303 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2025 |
| Altrincham Garrick Society Limited Pub/bar/nightclub | 396 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 May 2006 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2026 |
Questions about Essence
What is Essence's food hygiene rating?
Essence has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Trafford Council on 21 May 2026.
Is Essence safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The restaurant 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 Essence last inspected?
Essence was last inspected on 21 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Trafford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Essence?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Essence compare to other places in Trafford?
81% of the 1,982 rated food businesses in Trafford hold the top rating of 5, while Essence holds a 1. 24 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Trafford Council inspects Essence 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 Essence 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 1 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 Trafford, 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: Trafford
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Essence is one of 534 rated food businesses in Altrincham. See every hygiene rating in Altrincham →
Trafford inspects and rates 2,191 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Trafford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.trafford.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 →