Charleston Lewes food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Lewes
Charleston Lewes 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 18 June 2025, 12 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: Southover House Southover Road, Lewes, BN7 1AB
How it compares in Lewes
That puts Charleston Lewes among the 741 places in Lewes holding top marks, 85% 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 | 741 | 85% | ← Charleston Lewes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 88 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 91 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 Charleston Lewes 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 Charleston Lewes, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pailin Thai Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
| Charcoal Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 119 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Erawan Takeaway/sandwich shop | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2026 |
| Bonne Bouche Retailers - other | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
| Beckworths Retailers - other | 134 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2025 |
| Station Burger Takeaway/sandwich shop | 145 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Station Wines Retailers - other | 145 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 July 2023 |
Questions about Charleston Lewes
What is Charleston Lewes's food hygiene rating?
Charleston Lewes has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Lewes Council on 18 June 2025.
Is Charleston Lewes 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 Charleston Lewes last inspected?
Charleston Lewes was last inspected on 18 June 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lewes Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Charleston Lewes?
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 Charleston Lewes compare to other places in Lewes?
85% of the 869 rated food businesses in Lewes hold the top rating of 5, and Charleston Lewes is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Lewes Council inspects Charleston Lewes 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 Charleston Lewes 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
Lewes inspects and rates 960 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lewes →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lewes-eastbourne.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 →