The Handy Plaice food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · East Cambridgeshire
The Handy Plaice holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 27 January 2026, 5 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: 2 Market Street, Soham, Ely, CB7 5JG
How it compares in East Cambridgeshire
A 2 is rare: only 14 of 697 rated places in East Cambridgeshire score this low, about one in 50. By contrast 83% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 579 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 65 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 2% | ← The Handy Plaice | |
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 91 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Handy Plaice the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and the condition of the premises. 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 The Handy Plaice, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soham Comrades Club Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2022 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 42 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Sabro's Mobile caterer | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| The Fountain Pub/bar/nightclub | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2024 |
| Aroma Café And Restaurant & Picante Mexican Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 88 yards away | 4 - Good | 24 September 2025 |
| Ali Taj Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 88 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 14 July 2025 |
| Pupa's Shop Ltd (Labas) Retailers - other | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2026 |
| CornerCopia Living Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 208 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
Questions about The Handy Plaice
What is The Handy Plaice's food hygiene rating?
The Handy Plaice has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by East Cambridgeshire Council on 27 January 2026.
Is The Handy Plaice safe to eat at?
A 2 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 The Handy Plaice last inspected?
The Handy Plaice was last inspected on 27 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Cambridgeshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Handy Plaice?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Handy Plaice compare to other places in East Cambridgeshire?
83% of the 697 rated food businesses in East Cambridgeshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Handy Plaice holds a 2. 14 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Cambridgeshire Council inspects The Handy Plaice 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 Handy Plaice 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 2 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 East Cambridgeshire, 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: East Cambridgeshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Handy Plaice is one of 418 rated food businesses in Ely. See every hygiene rating in Ely →
East Cambridgeshire inspects and rates 788 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Cambridgeshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastcambs.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 →