The Southern Co-op food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
The Southern Co-op 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: The Southern Co-op was inspected on 4 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 235 Castle Lane West, Bournemouth, BH9 3LD
How it compares in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
That puts The Southern Co-op among the 2,582 places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole holding top marks, 88% 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 | 2,582 | 88% | ← The Southern Co-op | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 239 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 87 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 567 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 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 The Southern Co-op 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 The Southern Co-op, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Express Retailers - other | 252 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Barbara Rose Nursery School Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2020 |
| Age UK (Bournemouth) Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Bishop of Winchester Academy School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2024 |
| Barnacles Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 November 2022 |
| Aldi Stores Limited Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| B&M Store Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2021 |
| Bird N Burg Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
Questions about The Southern Co-op
What is The Southern Co-op's food hygiene rating?
The Southern Co-op has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on 4 June 2026.
Is The Southern Co-op 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 The Southern Co-op last inspected?
The Southern Co-op was last inspected on 4 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Southern Co-op?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 The Southern Co-op compare to other places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
88% of the 2,942 rated food businesses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole hold the top rating of 5, and The Southern Co-op is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council inspects The Southern Co-op 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 The Southern Co-op and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Southern Co-op is one of 1,566 rated food businesses in Bournemouth. See every hygiene rating in Bournemouth →
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole inspects and rates 3,509 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bcpcouncil.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 →