Bess BBQ food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Hastings
Bess BBQ holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 18 March 2025, 15 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: Shop And Premises 20 Norman Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 6NH
How it compares in Hastings
That puts Bess BBQ among the 749 places in Hastings holding top marks, 91% 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 | 749 | 91% | ← Bess BBQ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 37 | 5% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 23 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 90 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 Bess BBQ 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 Bess BBQ, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolthole Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 21 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Calima Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 21 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Arigato Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| Breakfast Zone Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 61 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2024 |
| Bistro at the Bank Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2026 |
| Bonjour Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2026 |
| Bistro Albo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 109 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Blue Fish Takeaway/sandwich shop | 113 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2026 |
Questions about Bess BBQ
What is Bess BBQ's food hygiene rating?
Bess BBQ has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Hastings Council on 18 March 2025.
Is Bess BBQ 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Bess BBQ last inspected?
Bess BBQ was last inspected on 18 March 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Hastings Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bess BBQ?
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 Bess BBQ compare to other places in Hastings?
91% of the 821 rated food businesses in Hastings hold the top rating of 5, and Bess BBQ is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Hastings Council inspects Bess BBQ 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 Bess BBQ and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bess BBQ is one of 325 rated food businesses in St Leonards-on-Sea. See every hygiene rating in St Leonards-on-Sea →
Hastings inspects and rates 911 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Hastings →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.hastings.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 →