Big Pickles food hygiene rating
School/college/university · North Kesteven
Big Pickles holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 February 2012, more than 14 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: Little Pickles Pre-School, Branston Infant School, LN4 1PR
How it compares in North Kesteven
That puts Big Pickles among the 860 places in North Kesteven holding top marks, 93% 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 | 860 | 93% | ← Big Pickles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 55 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 52 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 Big Pickles 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 Big Pickles, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branston CoE Infant School School/college/university | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2017 |
| Branston Little Pickles Pre-School School/college/university | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2010 |
| Home Curries Takeaway/sandwich shop | 169 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2025 |
| Mamoo's Branston Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 201 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2024 |
| Branston & Mere Village Hall Other catering premises | 428 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2024 |
| Branston Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2024 |
| Branston (Lincoln) Home Guard Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2013 |
| Branston Community Academy School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2025 |
Questions about Big Pickles
What is Big Pickles's food hygiene rating?
Big Pickles has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Kesteven Council on 7 February 2012.
Is Big Pickles 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 school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Big Pickles last inspected?
Big Pickles was last inspected on 7 February 2012, more than 14 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Kesteven Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Big Pickles?
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 Big Pickles compare to other places in North Kesteven?
93% of the 924 rated food businesses in North Kesteven hold the top rating of 5, and Big Pickles is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Kesteven Council inspects Big Pickles 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 Big Pickles 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 Kesteven inspects and rates 976 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Kesteven →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.n-kesteven.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 →