The Haven food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Dover
The Haven 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 29 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: 20A King Street, Sandwich, CT13 9BT
How it compares in Dover
That puts The Haven among the 892 places in Dover holding top marks, 82% 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 | 892 | 82% | ← The Haven | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 113 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 112 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 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 Haven 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 Haven, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The tanning lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 9 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2025 |
| The Teaport Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 14 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2026 |
| The Sandwich Bakery Company Manufacturers/packers | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Ohlssons Fine Food Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 25 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| The Independent Pig Coffee Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 34 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2025 |
| Sandwich Convenience Store Retailers - other | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2023 |
| Sandwich kebab and pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2026 |
| Lazy Elephant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 68 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2026 |
Questions about The Haven
What is The Haven's food hygiene rating?
The Haven has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dover Council on 29 January 2026.
Is The Haven 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 The Haven last inspected?
The Haven was last inspected on 29 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dover Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Haven?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Haven compare to other places in Dover?
82% of the 1,086 rated food businesses in Dover hold the top rating of 5, and The Haven is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dover Council inspects The Haven 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 Haven 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
The Haven is one of 85 rated food businesses in Sandwich. See every hygiene rating in Sandwich →
Dover inspects and rates 1,198 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dover →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dover.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 →