The Thirsty Fish food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Tunbridge Wells
The Thirsty Fish holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the restaurant are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 12 September 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.
Address: Unit 3, Ely Court, Royal Victoria Place, TN1 2SP
How it compares in Tunbridge Wells
In Tunbridge Wells, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so The Thirsty Fish sits behind roughly 860 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 860 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 114 | 11% | ← The Thirsty Fish | |
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 45 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 The Thirsty Fish 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 The Thirsty Fish, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frookeats Limited Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2025 |
| Even Flow Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 13 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2024 |
| Dulce's Patisserie Retailers - other | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 96 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2012 |
| Claire's Retailers - other | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 December 2024 |
| Cook Retailers - other | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2026 |
| Abbeyfield South Downs Ltd Caring Premises | 140 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2025 |
| Dragon Tan Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2025 |
Questions about The Thirsty Fish
What is The Thirsty Fish's food hygiene rating?
The Thirsty Fish has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Tunbridge Wells Council on 12 September 2023.
Is The Thirsty Fish safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Thirsty Fish last inspected?
The Thirsty Fish was last inspected on 12 September 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tunbridge Wells Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Thirsty Fish?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Thirsty Fish compare to other places in Tunbridge Wells?
83% of the 1,038 rated food businesses in Tunbridge Wells hold the top rating of 5, while The Thirsty Fish holds a 4. 114 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Tunbridge Wells Council inspects The Thirsty Fish 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 Thirsty Fish and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Thirsty Fish is one of 465 rated food businesses in Royal Tunbridge Wells. See every hygiene rating in Royal Tunbridge Wells →
Tunbridge Wells inspects and rates 1,083 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tunbridge Wells →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tunbridgewells.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 →