Bits On The Side food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Southend-On-Sea
Bits On The Side holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The business met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 20 March 2026, 3 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: 117 - 119 Rectory Grove, Leigh-on-sea, Essex, SS9 2HW
How it compares in Southend-On-Sea
In Southend-On-Sea, 70% of rated places manage a 5, so Bits On The Side sits behind roughly 1,216 nearby businesses. 9% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 973 | 70% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 243 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 119 | 9% | ← Bits On The Side | |
| 2 out of 5 | 35 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 105 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- 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 Bits On The Side 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 Bits On The Side, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beauleigh Court Caring Premises | 175 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2025 |
| Boatyard Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 300 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2025 |
| Barlow And Fields Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 363 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2024 |
| Cafe Vino Pub/bar/nightclub | 394 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 November 2024 |
| Cantina Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2024 |
| Bocca Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Cake @ Annas Plants Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2024 |
| AGH Event Bars Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2023 |
Questions about Bits On The Side
What is Bits On The Side's food hygiene rating?
Bits On The Side has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Southend-On-Sea Council on 20 March 2026.
Is Bits On The Side safe to eat at?
A 3 means the business met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Bits On The Side last inspected?
Bits On The Side was last inspected on 20 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southend-On-Sea Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bits On The Side?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Bits On The Side compare to other places in Southend-On-Sea?
70% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Southend-On-Sea hold the top rating of 5, while Bits On The Side holds a 3. 119 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Southend-On-Sea Council inspects Bits On The Side 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 Bits On The Side and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bits On The Side is one of 275 rated food businesses in Leigh-on-Sea. See every hygiene rating in Leigh-on-Sea →
Southend-On-Sea inspects and rates 1,492 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southend-On-Sea →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southend.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 →