Essential Amor food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · East Suffolk
Essential Amor holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 20 February 2026, 4 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: 1 St James Green, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6JL
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts Essential Amor among the 1,994 places in East Suffolk holding top marks, 86% 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 | 1,994 | 86% | ← Essential Amor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 212 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 202 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 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 Essential Amor 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 Essential Amor, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole Bay Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2025 |
| Vertas At Southwold Primary School School/college/university | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Harris And James Store Southwold Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 162 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| The Little Fish & Chip Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 162 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Suzie's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 4 - Good | 25 March 2025 |
| The Swan Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 166 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
| Lord Nelson Southwold Pub/bar/nightclub | 168 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 September 2023 |
| The Black Dog Deli Pizza Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 168 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2025 |
Questions about Essential Amor
What is Essential Amor's food hygiene rating?
Essential Amor has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 20 February 2026.
Is Essential Amor 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Essential Amor last inspected?
Essential Amor was last inspected on 20 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Essential Amor?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Essential Amor compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,317 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and Essential Amor is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Essential Amor 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 Essential Amor and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Essential Amor is one of 88 rated food businesses in Southwold. See every hygiene rating in Southwold →
East Suffolk inspects and rates 2,519 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastsuffolk.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 →