Cottage Bakery food hygiene rating
Manufacturers/packers · Rochford
Cottage Bakery holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the food producer requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 18 August 2025, 10 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: 14 Main Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4QS
How it compares in Rochford
A 0 is rare: only 3 of 591 rated places in Rochford score this low, about one in 197. By contrast 83% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 491 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 65 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 16 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | 1% | ← Cottage Bakery |
A further 106 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 Urgent improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Urgent 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 Cottage Bakery 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 Cottage Bakery, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chutney Club Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2026 |
| Brick Lane Bagel Co Hockley Takeaway/sandwich shop | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2025 |
| Harleys Fish Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 189 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2024 |
| Butterflies Club C.I.C Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 280 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2025 |
| Grillzos Takeaway/sandwich shop | 305 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 December 2025 |
| Dominos Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 323 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2025 |
| CJ's Bowling Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 352 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2024 |
Questions about Cottage Bakery
What is Cottage Bakery's food hygiene rating?
Cottage Bakery has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by Rochford Council on 18 August 2025.
Is Cottage Bakery safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The food producer may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was Cottage Bakery last inspected?
Cottage Bakery was last inspected on 18 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Rochford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Cottage Bakery?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "urgent improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "urgent improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Cottage Bakery compare to other places in Rochford?
83% of the 591 rated food businesses in Rochford hold the top rating of 5, while Cottage Bakery holds a 0. 3 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Rochford Council inspects Cottage Bakery 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 Cottage Bakery 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 0 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 Rochford, 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: Rochford
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cottage Bakery is one of 75 rated food businesses in Hockley. See every hygiene rating in Hockley →
Rochford inspects and rates 697 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Rochford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.rochford.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 →