The Vale food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Chichester
The Vale 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 28 October 2025, 8 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: Downs Road, West Stoke, Funtington, PO18 9HJ
How it compares in Chichester
That puts The Vale among the 1,254 places in Chichester holding top marks, 95% 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 | 1,254 | 95% | ← The Vale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 4% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 119 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very 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 Vale 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 Vale, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse And Groom Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2026 |
| Little Harriers Caring Premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2025 |
| Lavant House Stables Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Ashling Park Estate Farmers/growers | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2026 |
| Northlands Leisure Mobile caterer | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2024 |
| Barfoots Funtington Potato Store Distributors/Transporters | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2024 |
| Hunters Lodge Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2026 |
| Before And After School Club Caring Premises | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2024 |
Questions about The Vale
What is The Vale's food hygiene rating?
The Vale has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Chichester Council on 28 October 2025.
Is The Vale 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 Vale last inspected?
The Vale was last inspected on 28 October 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Chichester Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Vale?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Vale compare to other places in Chichester?
95% of the 1,324 rated food businesses in Chichester hold the top rating of 5, and The Vale is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Chichester Council inspects The Vale 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 Vale and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Chichester inspects and rates 1,443 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Chichester →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.chichester.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 →