First Steps First food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Buckinghamshire
First Steps First holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 2 July 2025, 12 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: Mill Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
How it compares in Buckinghamshire
That puts First Steps First among the 3,226 places in Buckinghamshire holding top marks, 81% 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 | 3,226 | 81% | ← First Steps First | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 530 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 171 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 42 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 615 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling 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 First Steps First 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 First Steps First, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macdonald Compleat Angler Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 305 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
| Carvells Newsagents Retailers - other | 383 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2016 |
| Amorino Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 August 2022 |
| Ginger Wings Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2026 |
| Fego Cafe Marlow Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| Grape Expectations Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2024 |
| Laurents Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 April 2025 |
| Duke Of Clarence Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
Questions about First Steps First
What is First Steps First's food hygiene rating?
First Steps First has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Buckinghamshire Council on 2 July 2025.
Is First Steps First 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 care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was First Steps First last inspected?
First Steps First was last inspected on 2 July 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Buckinghamshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at First Steps First?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 First Steps First compare to other places in Buckinghamshire?
81% of the 4,001 rated food businesses in Buckinghamshire hold the top rating of 5, and First Steps First is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Buckinghamshire Council inspects First Steps First 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 First Steps First and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
First Steps First is one of 132 rated food businesses in Marlow. See every hygiene rating in Marlow →
Buckinghamshire inspects and rates 4,616 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Buckinghamshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.buckinghamshire.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 →