The little ship food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Dorset
The little ship holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: The little ship was inspected on 6 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
98% of rated food businesses in Dorset score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Dorset ratings →
Address: 9 Victoria Square, Portland, DT5 1AL
How this rating has changed
The little ship was re-inspected on 6 August 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 6 August 2026 | AwaitingInspection 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Dorset
That puts The little ship among the 3,846 places in Dorset holding top marks, 95% 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 | 3,846 | 95% | ← The little ship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 141 | 3% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 1,131 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 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 The little ship 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 little ship, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunk And Breakfast Ltd Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2024 |
| Little Ship Pub/bar/nightclub | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Masonic Hall Other catering premises | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2025 |
| Jurassic Aquatics Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2023 |
| Chesil Chippie Takeaway/sandwich shop | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| The Bluefish Café and Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2024 |
| Cove House Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 229 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2025 |
| Ocean Bay Takeaway/sandwich shop | 229 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
Questions about The little ship
What is The little ship's food hygiene rating?
The little ship has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dorset Council on 6 August 2026.
Is The little ship 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The little ship last inspected?
The little ship was last inspected on 6 August 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dorset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The little ship?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The little ship compare to other places in Dorset?
95% of the 4,031 rated food businesses in Dorset hold the top rating of 5, and The little ship is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dorset Council inspects The little ship 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 little ship and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The little ship is one of 137 rated food businesses in Portland. See every hygiene rating in Portland →
Dorset inspects and rates 5,162 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dorset →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.dorsetcouncil.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 →