The Watering Place food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Babergh
The Watering Place 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 2 February 2026, 5 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: Gainsborough House, 46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, CO10 2EU
How it compares in Babergh
That puts The Watering Place among the 696 places in Babergh holding top marks, 86% 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 | 696 | 86% | ← The Watering Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 66 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 27 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 73 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 The Watering Place 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 Watering Place, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courtyard Tap Pub/bar/nightclub | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2023 |
| Davids Bistro and Wine Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 113 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| David's Delicatessen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Lara Meze and Grill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 August 2025 |
| Morrisons Daily Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2026 |
| Prado Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
Questions about The Watering Place
What is The Watering Place's food hygiene rating?
The Watering Place has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Babergh Council on 2 February 2026.
Is The Watering Place 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 The Watering Place last inspected?
The Watering Place was last inspected on 2 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Babergh Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Watering Place?
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 The Watering Place compare to other places in Babergh?
86% of the 806 rated food businesses in Babergh hold the top rating of 5, and The Watering Place is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Babergh Council inspects The Watering Place 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 Watering Place 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 Watering Place is one of 307 rated food businesses in Sudbury. See every hygiene rating in Sudbury →
Babergh inspects and rates 879 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Babergh →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.babergh.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 →