Cliffe Refectory food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Lewes
Cliffe Refectory holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 9 September 2025, 10 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: Cliffe Building East Sussex College Mountfield Road, Lewes, BN7 2XH
How it compares in Lewes
That puts Cliffe Refectory among the 741 places in Lewes holding top marks, 85% 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 | 741 | 85% | ← Cliffe Refectory | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 88 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 91 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 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 Cliffe Refectory 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 Cliffe Refectory, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culture Shift School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 September 2025 |
| Firle House Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 6 October 2025 |
| Krunchkins Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 326 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2026 |
| Station Burger Takeaway/sandwich shop | 363 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Station Wines Retailers - other | 363 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 July 2023 |
| Greyfriars Court Caring Premises | 363 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| Erawan Takeaway/sandwich shop | 380 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Premier Inn Thyme Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 396 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
Questions about Cliffe Refectory
What is Cliffe Refectory's food hygiene rating?
Cliffe Refectory has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Lewes Council on 9 September 2025.
Is Cliffe Refectory 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 school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Cliffe Refectory last inspected?
Cliffe Refectory was last inspected on 9 September 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lewes Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Cliffe Refectory?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Cliffe Refectory compare to other places in Lewes?
85% of the 869 rated food businesses in Lewes hold the top rating of 5, and Cliffe Refectory is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Lewes Council inspects Cliffe Refectory 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 Cliffe Refectory 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
Lewes inspects and rates 960 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lewes →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lewes-eastbourne.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 →