Smallsticks Barn Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · North Norfolk
Smallsticks Barn Cafe 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 19 May 2025, 13 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: Cart Gap Road, Happisburgh, Norfolk, NR12 0QL
How it compares in North Norfolk
That puts Smallsticks Barn Cafe among the 1,257 places in North Norfolk holding top marks, 86% 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 | 1,257 | 86% | ← Smallsticks Barn Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 143 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 56 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 Smallsticks Barn Cafe 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 Smallsticks Barn Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints School School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| The Star Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Sarnies By The Sea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 August 2022 |
| Happisburgh Village Shop Retailers - other | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| The Hill House Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.3 miles away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 23 February 2026 |
| Happisburgh Cricket Club Other catering premises | 1.4 miles away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Clover Childcare Services Ltd Caring Premises | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| East Ruston Old Vicarage Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 2.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
Questions about Smallsticks Barn Cafe
What is Smallsticks Barn Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Smallsticks Barn Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Norfolk Council on 19 May 2025.
Is Smallsticks Barn Cafe 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 Smallsticks Barn Cafe last inspected?
Smallsticks Barn Cafe was last inspected on 19 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Norfolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Smallsticks Barn Cafe?
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 Smallsticks Barn Cafe compare to other places in North Norfolk?
86% of the 1,461 rated food businesses in North Norfolk hold the top rating of 5, and Smallsticks Barn Cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Norfolk Council inspects Smallsticks Barn Cafe 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 Smallsticks Barn Cafe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
North Norfolk inspects and rates 1,517 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Norfolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northnorfolk.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 →