Water Margin food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Test Valley
Water Margin holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The restaurant 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 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: The Water Margin, 72 Botley Road, North Baddesley, SO52 9DU
How it compares in Test Valley
In Test Valley, 88% of rated places manage a 5, so Water Margin sits behind roughly 937 nearby businesses. 2% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 858 | 88% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 79 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ← Water Margin | |
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 110 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 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 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Test Valley Council on 20 June 2024.
Is Water Margin safe to eat at?
A 3 means the restaurant 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 Water Margin last inspected?
Water Margin was last inspected on 20 June 2024, more than 2 years 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 "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". 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 971 rated food businesses in Test Valley hold the top rating of 5, while Water Margin holds a 3. 22 places in the area share that rating.
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.
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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 1,081 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 →