5

COOK food hygiene rating

Retailers - other · Dorset

COOK holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 12 July 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: 9 Tudor Arcade South Street, Dorchester, DT1 1BN

How it compares in Dorset

That puts COOK among the 3,808 places in Dorset holding top marks, 95% 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.

Every rated food business in Dorset
5 out of 5 3,808 95% ← COOK
4 out of 5 139 3%
3 out of 5 33 1%
2 out of 5 5 <1%
1 out of 5 3 <1%
0 out of 5 0 0%

A further 1,119 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 COOK 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 COOK, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Greggs Takeaway/sandwich shop 75 yards away 5 - Very good 10 April 2025
Costa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 90 yards away 5 - Very good 16 October 2025
Finca Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 104 yards away 5 - Very good 14 July 2025
Joey's Other catering premises 114 yards away 5 - Very good 19 November 2024
Caffè Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 141 yards away 5 - Very good 8 January 2025
AL Molo - Dorchester Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 147 yards away 5 - Very good 14 April 2026
Curriocity Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 149 yards away 5 - Very good 16 January 2026
Basilico Simply Italian Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 151 yards away 5 - Very good 12 November 2025

Questions about COOK

What is COOK's food hygiene rating?

COOK has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dorset Council on 12 July 2024.

Is COOK 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was COOK last inspected?

COOK was last inspected on 12 July 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dorset Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at COOK?

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 COOK compare to other places in Dorset?

95% of the 3,988 rated food businesses in Dorset hold the top rating of 5, and COOK is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Dorset Council inspects COOK 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 COOK 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

COOK is one of 249 rated food businesses in Dorchester. See every hygiene rating in Dorchester

Dorset inspects and rates 5,107 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dorset

The official record is held by the council: https://www.dorsetcouncil.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 →