Simply Local food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Isle of Wight
Simply Local holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the supermarket are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
This rating dates from 17 April 2025, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: 33 - 34 High Street, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7RS
How it compares in Isle of Wight
In Isle of Wight, 70% of rated places manage a 5, so Simply Local sits behind roughly 1,041 nearby businesses. 18% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,041 | 70% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 262 | 18% | ← Simply Local | |
| 3 out of 5 | 139 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 208 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 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 Simply Local 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 Simply Local, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dack's Newsagents Retailers - other | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Little French Franks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2026 |
| Salt Cowes Retailers - other | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2024 |
| Pier View Pub/bar/nightclub | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2026 |
| Healthy Indulgence Retailers - other | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2024 |
| Cowes Town Central Retailers - other | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Pinnacle Suites Ltd Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Marks And Spencer Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2024 |
Questions about Simply Local
What is Simply Local's food hygiene rating?
Simply Local has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Isle of Wight Council on 17 April 2025.
Is Simply Local safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this supermarket to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Simply Local last inspected?
Simply Local was last inspected on 17 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Isle of Wight Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Simply Local?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Simply Local compare to other places in Isle of Wight?
70% of the 1,479 rated food businesses in Isle of Wight hold the top rating of 5, while Simply Local holds a 4. 262 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Isle of Wight Council inspects Simply Local 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 Simply Local 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
Simply Local is one of 139 rated food businesses in Cowes. See every hygiene rating in Cowes →
Isle of Wight inspects and rates 1,687 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Isle of Wight →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.iow.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/community-protection-services/
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 →