The Secret Vineyard food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Wealden
The Secret Vineyard holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the business met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 January 2026, 7 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.
95% of rated food businesses in Wealden score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Wealden ratings →
Address: Lime Cross Nursery Windmill Hill Road, Windmill Hill, Herstmonceux, BN27 4RS
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near The Secret Vineyard
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How it compares in Wealden
That puts The Secret Vineyard among the 1,048 places in Wealden holding top marks, 79% 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 | 1,048 | 79% | ← The Secret Vineyard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 210 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 73 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 39 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 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 Secret Vineyard 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 Secret Vineyard, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fishing Lodge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Windmill Hill post office and stores Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 23 July 2026 |
| The Little Bake Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2025 |
| Brewers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 August 2026 |
| Geo's Coffee House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| Herstmonceux Lunch Club Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 March 2026 |
| Herstmonceux Pre School Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2023 |
| PGL Activity Centre Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2026 |
Questions about The Secret Vineyard
What is The Secret Vineyard's food hygiene rating?
The Secret Vineyard has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Wealden Council on 16 January 2026.
Is The Secret Vineyard 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 business to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Secret Vineyard last inspected?
The Secret Vineyard was last inspected on 16 January 2026, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Wealden Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Secret Vineyard?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Secret Vineyard compare to other places in Wealden?
79% of the 1,335 rated food businesses in Wealden hold the top rating of 5, and The Secret Vineyard is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Wealden Council inspects The Secret Vineyard 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 Secret Vineyard 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
The Secret Vineyard is one of 18 rated food businesses in Herstmonceux. See every hygiene rating in Herstmonceux →
Wealden inspects and rates 1,374 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Wealden →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.wealden.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 →