The Mandarin food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Mid Suffolk
The Mandarin holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the takeaway and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 30 October 2025, 8 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Shoulder Of Mutton Inn, Stowmarket Road, Old Newton, IP14 4EF
How it compares in Mid Suffolk
A 1 is rare: only 8 of 729 rated places in Mid Suffolk score this low, about one in 91. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 624 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 66 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ← The Mandarin | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 122 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 The Mandarin the inspector recorded concerns over 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 The Mandarin, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Newton Village Stores Retailers - other | 211 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2013 |
| The Church Institute Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2025 |
| Bramley Barn Free Range Eggs Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2023 |
| Old Newton Methodist Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
Questions about The Mandarin
What is The Mandarin's food hygiene rating?
The Mandarin has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Mid Suffolk Council on 30 October 2025.
Is The Mandarin safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway 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 The Mandarin last inspected?
The Mandarin was last inspected on 30 October 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Mandarin?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 The Mandarin compare to other places in Mid Suffolk?
86% of the 729 rated food businesses in Mid Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while The Mandarin holds a 1. 8 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Suffolk Council inspects The Mandarin 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 The Mandarin 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 Mid Suffolk, 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: Mid Suffolk
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Mandarin is one of 244 rated food businesses in Stowmarket. See every hygiene rating in Stowmarket →
Mid Suffolk inspects and rates 851 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsuffolk.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 →