Water Margin food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Test Valley
Water Margin 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
This is a fresh result: Water Margin was inspected on 21 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
96% of rated food businesses in Test Valley score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Test Valley ratings →
Address: The Water Margin, 72 Botley Road, North Baddesley, SO52 9DU
How this rating has changed
Water Margin has improved: it was rated 3 before its inspection on 21 July 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 21 July 2026 | 3 5 | Improved |
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 Test Valley
That puts Water Margin among the 863 places in Test Valley holding top marks, 88% 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 | 863 | 88% | ← Water Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 74 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 16 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 84 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 Water Margin 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 Water Margin, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baddesley Service Station Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Bright Horizons North Baddesley Day Nursery And Preschool Caring Premises | 188 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2026 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 219 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Beadle's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 407 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2024 |
| ChefGary Ltd Other catering premises | 407 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Chunkys Takeaway/sandwich shop | 407 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Arthur's Play Space Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
| ChefGary Other catering premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
Questions about Water Margin
What is Water Margin's food hygiene rating?
Water Margin has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Test Valley Council on 21 July 2026.
Is Water Margin 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 Water Margin last inspected?
Water Margin was last inspected on 21 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Test Valley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Water Margin?
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 Water Margin compare to other places in Test Valley?
88% of the 976 rated food businesses in Test Valley hold the top rating of 5, and Water Margin is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Test Valley Council inspects Water Margin 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 Water Margin 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Water Margin is one of 21 rated food businesses in North Baddesley. See every hygiene rating in North Baddesley →
Test Valley inspects and rates 1,060 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Test Valley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.testvalley.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 →