The South East Emporium food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Folkestone and Hythe
The South East Emporium 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 25 September 2025, 9 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: 2B the Old High Street, Folkestone, CT20 1RJ
How it compares in Folkestone and Hythe
That puts The South East Emporium among the 958 places in Folkestone and Hythe holding top marks, 84% 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 | 958 | 84% | ← The South East Emporium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 111 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 62 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 144 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 South East Emporium 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 The South East Emporium, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Fayre Retailers - other | 27 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| Django's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
| El Cortador Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
| Burrito Buoy Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 142 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2024 |
| Androus Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 149 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
| Euro Market Retailers - other | 155 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2020 |
| East Kent Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2024 |
| Aya Supermarket Retailers - other | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2024 |
Questions about The South East Emporium
What is The South East Emporium's food hygiene rating?
The South East Emporium has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Folkestone and Hythe Council on 25 September 2025.
Is The South East Emporium 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 The South East Emporium last inspected?
The South East Emporium was last inspected on 25 September 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Folkestone and Hythe Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The South East Emporium?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The South East Emporium compare to other places in Folkestone and Hythe?
84% of the 1,140 rated food businesses in Folkestone and Hythe hold the top rating of 5, and The South East Emporium is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Folkestone and Hythe Council inspects The South East Emporium 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 South East Emporium and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The South East Emporium is one of 519 rated food businesses in Folkestone. See every hygiene rating in Folkestone →
Folkestone and Hythe inspects and rates 1,284 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Folkestone and Hythe →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.folkestone-hythe.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 →