Smalltown food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · West Suffolk
Smalltown 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 1 May 2025, 14 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: 8 High Street, Clare, Suffolk, CO10 8NY
How it compares in West Suffolk
That puts Smalltown among the 1,349 places in West Suffolk 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 | 1,349 | 91% | ← Smalltown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 91 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 241 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling 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 Smalltown 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 Smalltown, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luna Moon Takeaway/sandwich shop | 6 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 December 2023 |
| The Pear Retailers - other | 6 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Tea at number 5 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 20 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2025 |
| Clare Trading Post Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 54 yards away | 4 - Good | 20 March 2025 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| J R Humphrey & Sons Ltd Retailers - other | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
| Tuckermans Takeaway/sandwich shop | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2024 |
| The Bell Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 55 yards away | 4 - Good | 29 August 2024 |
Questions about Smalltown
What is Smalltown's food hygiene rating?
Smalltown has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Suffolk Council on 1 May 2025.
Is Smalltown 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 Smalltown last inspected?
Smalltown was last inspected on 1 May 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Smalltown?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Smalltown compare to other places in West Suffolk?
91% of the 1,483 rated food businesses in West Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and Smalltown is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Suffolk Council inspects Smalltown 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 Smalltown and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Smalltown is one of 33 rated food businesses in Clare. See every hygiene rating in Clare →
West Suffolk inspects and rates 1,724 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westsuffolk.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 →