Friends Express (Solihull) food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Solihull
Friends Express (Solihull) 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
This is a fresh result: Friends Express (Solihull) was inspected on 24 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
91% of rated food businesses in Solihull score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Solihull ratings →
Address: 759 Old Lode Lane, Elmdon, Solihull, B92 8JE
How this rating has changed
Friends Express (Solihull) has improved: it was rated 3 before its inspection on 24 August 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 24 August 2026 | 3 5 | Improved |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Solihull
That puts Friends Express (Solihull) among the 989 places in Solihull holding top marks, 79% 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 | 989 | 79% | ← Friends Express (Solihull) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 147 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 64 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 32 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 151 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Friends Express (Solihull) 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 Friends Express (Solihull), nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best4 Vapes Retailers - other | 410 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2025 |
| 1st STORE SUPERMARKET Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2026 |
| Asda Express Hobs Moat PFS Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
| Bloom Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
| Ardens Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2026 |
| Arden Oak Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 September 2023 |
| All U Need Is Cake Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2017 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2017 |
Questions about Friends Express (Solihull)
What is Friends Express (Solihull)'s food hygiene rating?
Friends Express (Solihull) has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Solihull Council on 24 August 2026.
Is Friends Express (Solihull) 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 Friends Express (Solihull) last inspected?
Friends Express (Solihull) was last inspected on 24 August 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Solihull Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Friends Express (Solihull)?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Friends Express (Solihull) compare to other places in Solihull?
79% of the 1,252 rated food businesses in Solihull hold the top rating of 5, and Friends Express (Solihull) is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Solihull Council inspects Friends Express (Solihull) 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 Friends Express (Solihull) 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
Friends Express (Solihull) is one of 36 rated food businesses in Elmdon. See every hygiene rating in Elmdon →
Solihull inspects and rates 1,403 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Solihull →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.solihull.gov.uk/environment-and-animals/food-safety
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 →