Cafe On The Water food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Chelmsford
Cafe On The Water 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 1 April 2025, 15 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: Fishing Lodge, Hanningfield Reservoir, South Hanningfield Road, CM3 8HX
How it compares in Chelmsford
That puts Cafe On The Water 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% | ← Cafe On The Water | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Cafe On The Water 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 Cafe On The Water, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hanningfield Village Hall Other catering premises | 380 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Carroll Cupcake Company Other catering premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2024 |
| Active Genetics Limited Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 November 2024 |
| Hanningfield Reservoir Visitors Centre Essex Wildlife Sales Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2024 |
Questions about Cafe On The Water
What is Cafe On The Water's food hygiene rating?
Cafe On The Water has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Chelmsford Council on 1 April 2025.
Is Cafe On The Water 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 Cafe On The Water last inspected?
Cafe On The Water was last inspected on 1 April 2025, 15 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 Cafe On The Water?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Cafe On The Water compare to other places in Chelmsford?
92% of the 1,447 rated food businesses in Chelmsford hold the top rating of 5, and Cafe On The Water is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Chelmsford Council inspects Cafe On The Water 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 Cafe On The Water 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 →