Slow Boat food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Cheshire West and Chester
Slow Boat holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 5 July 2023, more than 3 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: 288 Chester Road, Hartford, Northwich, CW8 2AB
How it compares in Cheshire West and Chester
That puts Slow Boat among the 2,139 places in Cheshire West and Chester holding top marks, 80% 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 | 2,139 | 80% | ← Slow Boat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 308 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 145 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 33 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 37 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 309 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 Slow Boat 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 Slow Boat, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2026 |
| Co-Op Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 June 2021 |
| Grange Junior School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2026 |
| Fun Fest Hartford Manor School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 December 2025 |
| Hartford Manor C P School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
| Hartford Manor Primary School & Nursery School Club School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
| Hartford Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Hartford Golf Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2025 |
Questions about Slow Boat
What is Slow Boat's food hygiene rating?
Slow Boat has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cheshire West and Chester Council on 5 July 2023.
Is Slow Boat 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Slow Boat last inspected?
Slow Boat was last inspected on 5 July 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cheshire West and Chester Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Slow Boat?
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 Slow Boat compare to other places in Cheshire West and Chester?
80% of the 2,664 rated food businesses in Cheshire West and Chester hold the top rating of 5, and Slow Boat is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cheshire West and Chester Council inspects Slow Boat 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 Slow Boat and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Slow Boat is one of 494 rated food businesses in Northwich. See every hygiene rating in Northwich →
Cheshire West and Chester inspects and rates 2,973 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cheshire West and Chester →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cheshirewestandchester.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 →