Forest Foods food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · New Forest
Forest Foods holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 1 October 2024, 21 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Myrtle Cottage, Southern Lane, New Milton, BH25 7JE
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Forest Foods among the 1,154 places in New Forest holding top marks, 80% 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 | 1,154 | 80% | ← Forest Foods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 68 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 138 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 Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 Forest Foods 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 Forest Foods, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flip N Tails Seafoods Retailers - other | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2025 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| China at Lees Takeaway/sandwich shop | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| Colten Care Limited Caring Premises | 94 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2026 |
| LJ'S Snack Shack Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 217 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2024 |
| First Friends Day Nursery Caring Premises | 360 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2026 |
| Forest Arts Centre Other catering premises | 360 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2014 |
| LIDL Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 379 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2024 |
Questions about Forest Foods
What is Forest Foods's food hygiene rating?
Forest Foods has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 1 October 2024.
Is Forest Foods 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Forest Foods last inspected?
Forest Foods was last inspected on 1 October 2024, 21 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by New Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Forest Foods?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Forest Foods compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Forest Foods is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Forest Foods 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 Forest Foods 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
Forest Foods is one of 168 rated food businesses in New Milton. See every hygiene rating in New Milton →
New Forest inspects and rates 1,573 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in New Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newforest.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 →