Big Fish food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Lewes
Big Fish holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the takeaway and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 10 March 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: 7 Fisher Street, Lewes, BN7 2DG
How it compares in Lewes
A 1 is rare: only 11 of 869 rated places in Lewes score this low, about one in 79. By contrast 85% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 741 | 85% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 88 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ← Big Fish | |
| 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 Good
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Big Fish the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Big Fish, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewes Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 20 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| Pat's Pizza Pub/bar/nightclub | 20 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| Rustico Neapolitan Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 20 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2026 |
| Lewes Community Fridge Other catering premises | 95 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2026 |
| ASK Italian Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2025 |
| Kanatani Toys Retailers - other | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2026 |
| Morrisons Daily Retailers - other | 143 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 July 2024 |
| Caccia and Tails Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 151 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
Questions about Big Fish
What is Big Fish's food hygiene rating?
Big Fish has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Lewes Council on 10 March 2026.
Is Big Fish safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Big Fish last inspected?
Big Fish was last inspected on 10 March 2026, 4 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 Big Fish?
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 "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Big Fish compare to other places in Lewes?
85% of the 869 rated food businesses in Lewes hold the top rating of 5, while Big Fish holds a 1. 11 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Lewes Council inspects Big Fish 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 Big Fish 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Lewes, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Lewes
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 →