Essence Of India food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · East Hertfordshire
Essence Of India holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the takeaway and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 19 March 2026, 3 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: 1 East Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9HJ
How it compares in East Hertfordshire
A 1 is rare: only 9 of 1,168 rated places in East Hertfordshire score this low, about one in 130. By contrast 84% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 977 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 146 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 30 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ← Essence Of India | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 221 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Essence Of India the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Essence Of India, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burbage Family Butchers Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 72 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2024 |
| Amwell Tandoori Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 October 2024 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2024 |
| Casa Lua Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 May 2025 |
| French And Day Delicatessen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
| Fuoco's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 171 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 May 2025 |
| Ashwood Residential Care Home Caring Premises | 186 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2025 |
Questions about Essence Of India
What is Essence Of India's food hygiene rating?
Essence Of India has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by East Hertfordshire Council on 19 March 2026.
Is Essence Of India safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Essence Of India last inspected?
Essence Of India was last inspected on 19 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Essence Of India?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Essence Of India compare to other places in East Hertfordshire?
84% of the 1,168 rated food businesses in East Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, while Essence Of India holds a 1. 9 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Hertfordshire Council inspects Essence Of India 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 Essence Of India 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at East Hertfordshire, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: East Hertfordshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Essence Of India is one of 216 rated food businesses in Ware. See every hygiene rating in Ware →
East Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,389 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastherts.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 →