Costa Coffee food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · West Northamptonshire
Costa Coffee 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 13 November 2023, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: M1 Service Area Watford Gap Southbound, Station Road, Watford, NN6 7UZ
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
That puts Costa Coffee among the 2,565 places in West Northamptonshire holding top marks, 78% 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 | 2,565 | 78% | ← Costa Coffee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 377 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 44 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 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 Costa Coffee 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 Costa Coffee, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Square Deli Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2023 |
| LEON Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| Mcdonald's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| W H Smith Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2023 |
| Chozen Noodles Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2023 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2023 |
| Mcdonald's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2026 |
| W H Smith Retailers - other | 240 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2023 |
Questions about Costa Coffee
What is Costa Coffee's food hygiene rating?
Costa Coffee has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 13 November 2023.
Is Costa Coffee 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 Costa Coffee last inspected?
Costa Coffee was last inspected on 13 November 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Costa Coffee?
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 Costa Coffee compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, and Costa Coffee is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects Costa Coffee 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 Costa Coffee and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →