Downham Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Downham 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 30 October 2024, 20 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 13 Market Place, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9DF
How it compares in King's Lynn and West Norfolk
That puts Downham Cafe among the 1,206 places in King's Lynn and West Norfolk holding top marks, 89% 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 | 1,206 | 89% | ← Downham Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 98 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 29 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 147 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 Downham 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 Downham Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mabel Bakery Ltd Manufacturers/packers | 13 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2026 |
| Subway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 37 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2024 |
| Allium Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2024 |
| The Norfolk Cheese Company Retailers - other | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2024 |
| Direct Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| No 8 The Old Bookshop Retailers - other | 60 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| The Pantry Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 63 yards away | 4 - Good | 4 December 2025 |
| My Canteen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 66 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
Questions about Downham Cafe
What is Downham Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Downham Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council on 30 October 2024.
Is Downham 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 Downham Cafe last inspected?
Downham Cafe was last inspected on 30 October 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Downham Cafe?
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 Downham Cafe compare to other places in King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
89% of the 1,353 rated food businesses in King's Lynn and West Norfolk hold the top rating of 5, and Downham Cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council inspects Downham 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 Downham 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
Downham Cafe is one of 98 rated food businesses in Downham Market. See every hygiene rating in Downham Market →
King's Lynn and West Norfolk inspects and rates 1,500 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in King's Lynn and West Norfolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.west-norfolk.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 →