Romford Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Havering
Romford Cafe holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the restaurant and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Romford Cafe was inspected on 15 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 138 South Street, Romford, RM1 1TE
How it compares in Havering
A 1 is rare: only 34 of 1,646 rated places in Havering score this low, about one in 48. By contrast 72% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,179 | 72% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 326 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 85 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 19 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 34 | 2% | ← Romford Cafe | |
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 394 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Romford Cafe the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Romford Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aforda Retailers - other | 63 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2026 |
| Asia Villa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 169 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2026 |
| Asda Express Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2024 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 298 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2026 |
| Admiral Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 337 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2026 |
| Ava Grill & Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2026 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 February 2024 |
| Aroma / Spice Garden Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2024 |
Questions about Romford Cafe
What is Romford Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Romford Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Havering Council on 15 May 2026.
Is Romford Cafe safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The restaurant is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Romford Cafe last inspected?
Romford Cafe was last inspected on 15 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Havering Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Romford Cafe?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Romford Cafe compare to other places in Havering?
72% of the 1,646 rated food businesses in Havering hold the top rating of 5, while Romford Cafe holds a 1. 34 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Havering Council inspects Romford Cafe 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 Romford Cafe 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Havering, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Havering
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Romford Cafe is one of 777 rated food businesses in Romford. See every hygiene rating in Romford →
Havering inspects and rates 2,040 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Havering →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.havering.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 →