Harris And James Store Southwold food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · East Suffolk
Harris And James Store Southwold 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 20 February 2026, 4 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: 11 East Street, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6EH
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts Harris And James Store Southwold among the 1,994 places in East Suffolk 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 | 1,994 | 86% | ← Harris And James Store Southwold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 212 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 202 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 Harris And James Store Southwold 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 Harris And James Store Southwold, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Little Fish & Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Lord Nelson Southwold Pub/bar/nightclub | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 September 2023 |
| The Black Dog Deli Pizza Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2025 |
| Little Gems Retailers - other | 61 yards away | 4 - Good | 14 September 2023 |
| Mills & Sons (Southwold) Ltd Retailers - other | 61 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 15 August 2025 |
| Tesco Express Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2017 |
| Coasters Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 72 yards away | 4 - Good | 5 November 2024 |
| Queen Street Pharmacy Retailers - other | 72 yards away | Exempt |
Questions about Harris And James Store Southwold
What is Harris And James Store Southwold's food hygiene rating?
Harris And James Store Southwold has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 20 February 2026.
Is Harris And James Store Southwold 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 Harris And James Store Southwold last inspected?
Harris And James Store Southwold was last inspected on 20 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Harris And James Store Southwold?
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 Harris And James Store Southwold compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,317 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and Harris And James Store Southwold is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Harris And James Store Southwold 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 Harris And James Store Southwold and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Harris And James Store Southwold is one of 88 rated food businesses in Southwold. See every hygiene rating in Southwold →
East Suffolk inspects and rates 2,519 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastsuffolk.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 →