The Waterfront food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Somerset
The Waterfront holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the care premises that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 22 August 2016, more than 10 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.
Only 1% of rated food businesses in Somerset score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Somerset ratings →
Address: The Esplanade, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5QS
How it compares in Somerset
A 2 is rare: only 23 of 5,505 rated places in Somerset score this low, about one in 239. 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 | 4,819 | 88% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 540 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 89 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 23 | <1% | ← The Waterfront | |
| 1 out of 5 | 34 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 594 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Waterfront 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 Waterfront, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blenheim Lodge Caring Premises | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
| Aurora Foxes Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 198 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2025 |
| Flying Fox Takeaway/sandwich shop | 198 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2025 |
| Jubilee Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 224 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2025 |
| Flapjackery Retailers - other | 231 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 December 2024 |
| The Cherry Tree Retail Ltd Other catering premises | 232 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2025 |
| Grown Up Marshmallows Retailers - other | 234 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 August 2024 |
| Crispys Minehead Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 236 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2026 |
Questions about The Waterfront
What is The Waterfront's food hygiene rating?
The Waterfront has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Somerset Council on 22 August 2016.
Is The Waterfront safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The care premises 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 Waterfront last inspected?
The Waterfront was last inspected on 22 August 2016, more than 10 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 Waterfront?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Waterfront compare to other places in Somerset?
88% of the 5,505 rated food businesses in Somerset hold the top rating of 5, while The Waterfront holds a 2. 23 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Somerset Council inspects The Waterfront 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 Waterfront 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 Waterfront is one of 263 rated food businesses in Minehead. See every hygiene rating in Minehead →
Somerset inspects and rates 6,099 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 →