Small Talk Tearooms food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Chelmsford
Small Talk Tearooms holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 26 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: 25 - 27 Springfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6JE
How it compares in Chelmsford
That puts Small Talk Tearooms among the 1,327 places in Chelmsford holding top marks, 92% 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 | 1,327 | 92% | ← Small Talk Tearooms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 86 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 153 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 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 Small Talk Tearooms 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 Small Talk Tearooms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills Restaurant Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 109 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Boom Battle Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 121 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| BBs Coffee And Muffins Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2024 |
| Brick Lane Bagel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2025 |
| Burger King Other catering premises | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| Cafe 89 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 155 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
| Black Sheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 167 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2025 |
| Bar And Beyond / Absurd Bird / KBOX Pub/bar/nightclub | 243 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 April 2024 |
Questions about Small Talk Tearooms
What is Small Talk Tearooms's food hygiene rating?
Small Talk Tearooms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Chelmsford Council on 26 January 2026.
Is Small Talk Tearooms 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Small Talk Tearooms last inspected?
Small Talk Tearooms was last inspected on 26 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Chelmsford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Small Talk Tearooms?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Small Talk Tearooms compare to other places in Chelmsford?
92% of the 1,447 rated food businesses in Chelmsford hold the top rating of 5, and Small Talk Tearooms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Chelmsford Council inspects Small Talk Tearooms 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 Small Talk Tearooms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Chelmsford inspects and rates 1,600 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Chelmsford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.chelmsford.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 →