South Down Cellars food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Mid Sussex
South Down Cellars 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
This is a fresh result: South Down Cellars was inspected on 2 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: South Downs Cellars, 70 High Street, Lindfield, RH16 2HL
How this rating has changed
South Down Cellars was re-inspected on 2 July 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2 July 2026 | 5 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Mid Sussex
That puts South Down Cellars among the 1,031 places in Mid Sussex holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,031 | 83% | ← South Down Cellars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 127 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 59 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 116 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 South Down Cellars 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 South Down Cellars, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Flamant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 17 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Lindfield Coffee Works Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 26 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2025 |
| Messy Church Other catering premises | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2025 |
| Cottenham's Retailers - other | 151 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2026 |
| Compton House Christian Nursing Home Caring Premises | 167 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| All Saints Church Other catering premises | 339 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2025 |
| Caterplus @ Anchor - Arthur Bliss Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| Lindfield Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 September 2021 |
Questions about South Down Cellars
What is South Down Cellars's food hygiene rating?
South Down Cellars has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Sussex Council on 2 July 2026.
Is South Down Cellars 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 South Down Cellars last inspected?
South Down Cellars was last inspected on 2 July 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Sussex Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at South Down Cellars?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does South Down Cellars compare to other places in Mid Sussex?
83% of the 1,248 rated food businesses in Mid Sussex hold the top rating of 5, and South Down Cellars is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Sussex Council inspects South Down Cellars 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 South Down Cellars and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
South Down Cellars is one of 337 rated food businesses in Haywards Heath. See every hygiene rating in Haywards Heath →
Mid Sussex inspects and rates 1,364 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Sussex →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsussex.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 →