Mill Race Garden Centre food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Colchester
Mill Race Garden Centre 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 12 October 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.
96% of rated food businesses in Colchester score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Colchester ratings →
Address: Mill Race Nursery, New Road, Aldham, CO6 3QT
How it compares in Colchester
That puts Mill Race Garden Centre among the 1,225 places in Colchester holding top marks, 90% 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 | 1,225 | 90% | ← Mill Race Garden Centre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 75 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 284 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 Mill Race Garden Centre 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 Mill Race Garden Centre, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder of Mutton Tea Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2025 |
| Happy Fries Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2024 |
| The Horsebox Mobile caterer | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2022 |
| John Owen Barn Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2026 |
| Crapes Fruit Farm Farmers/growers | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2026 |
Questions about Mill Race Garden Centre
What is Mill Race Garden Centre's food hygiene rating?
Mill Race Garden Centre has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Colchester Council on 12 October 2023.
Is Mill Race Garden Centre 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 Mill Race Garden Centre last inspected?
Mill Race Garden Centre was last inspected on 12 October 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Colchester Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Mill Race Garden Centre?
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 Mill Race Garden Centre compare to other places in Colchester?
90% of the 1,358 rated food businesses in Colchester hold the top rating of 5, and Mill Race Garden Centre is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Colchester Council inspects Mill Race Garden Centre 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 Mill Race Garden Centre 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Colchester inspects and rates 1,642 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Colchester →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.colchester.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 →