China Cottage food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Dorset
China Cottage holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 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.
98% of rated food businesses in Dorset score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Dorset ratings →
Address: 4 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, SP7 8AR
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near China Cottage
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How it compares in Dorset
That puts China Cottage among the 3,846 places in Dorset holding top marks, 95% 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 | 3,846 | 95% | ← China Cottage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 141 | 3% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 1,131 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 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 China Cottage 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 China Cottage, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aroma Indian Cuisine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2024 |
| Pamplemousse Dorset Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2025 |
| Shaftesbury Arts Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2025 |
| Harvest Hill Produce Market Retailers - other | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2023 |
| Farm Soap Co Retailers - other | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2025 |
| Coffee #1 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| Reeve The Baker Retailers - other | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Swans Larder Retailers - other | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2019 |
Questions about China Cottage
What is China Cottage's food hygiene rating?
China Cottage has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dorset Council on 13 June 2024.
Is China Cottage 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was China Cottage last inspected?
China Cottage was last inspected on 13 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dorset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at China Cottage?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does China Cottage compare to other places in Dorset?
95% of the 4,031 rated food businesses in Dorset hold the top rating of 5, and China Cottage is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dorset Council inspects China Cottage 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 China Cottage and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
China Cottage is one of 99 rated food businesses in Shaftesbury. See every hygiene rating in Shaftesbury →
Dorset inspects and rates 5,162 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dorset →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.dorsetcouncil.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 →