The Link food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Somerset
The Link holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the business that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 23 August 2011, more than 14 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: 4 Anchor Street, Watchet, Somerset, TA23 0AZ
How it compares in Somerset
A 2 is rare: only 26 of 5,514 rated places in Somerset score this low, about one in 212. By contrast 88% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 4,825 | 88% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 539 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 93 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 26 | <1% | ← The Link | |
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 557 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 The Link the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 The Link, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cats Whisker Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 6 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2024 |
| Pizza Time Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2025 |
| By the Sea Retailers - other | 69 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| West Somerset Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2025 |
| Co-Operative Stores Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 109 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| East Quay Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2024 |
| Watchet Deli Ltd Other catering premises | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| The Sanctuary Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
Questions about The Link
What is The Link's food hygiene rating?
The Link has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Somerset Council on 23 August 2011.
Is The Link safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The business 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 The Link last inspected?
The Link was last inspected on 23 August 2011, more than 14 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Somerset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Link?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Link compare to other places in Somerset?
88% of the 5,514 rated food businesses in Somerset hold the top rating of 5, while The Link holds a 2. 26 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Somerset Council inspects The Link 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 The Link 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 2 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 Somerset, 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: Somerset
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Link is one of 61 rated food businesses in Watchet. See every hygiene rating in Watchet →
Somerset inspects and rates 6,071 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Somerset →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.somerset.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 →