Riverside food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Southend-On-Sea
Riverside 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 9 December 2025, 7 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: 16 - 17 Palmeira Parade, Western Esplanade, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7RR
How it compares in Southend-On-Sea
That puts Riverside among the 973 places in Southend-On-Sea holding top marks, 70% 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 | 973 | 70% | ← Riverside | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 243 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 119 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 35 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 105 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 Riverside 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 Riverside, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captains Table Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2025 |
| Akropolis Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 213 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 July 2025 |
| Bucatini Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 219 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2025 |
| Blackstone Coffee Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 396 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
| Cafe O'Portugues Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 413 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Canton House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
| Aarandale Lodge Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Avenue Playgroup Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2025 |
Questions about Riverside
What is Riverside's food hygiene rating?
Riverside has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Southend-On-Sea Council on 9 December 2025.
Is Riverside 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 Riverside last inspected?
Riverside was last inspected on 9 December 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southend-On-Sea Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Riverside?
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 Riverside compare to other places in Southend-On-Sea?
70% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Southend-On-Sea hold the top rating of 5, and Riverside is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Southend-On-Sea Council inspects Riverside 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 Riverside and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Riverside is one of 324 rated food businesses in Westcliff-on-Sea. See every hygiene rating in Westcliff-on-Sea →
Southend-On-Sea inspects and rates 1,492 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southend-On-Sea →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southend.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 →