Drifters food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · New Forest
Drifters holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 9 September 2023, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 8 Quay Street, Lymington, SO41 3AS
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Drifters among the 1,153 places in New Forest holding top marks, 80% 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 | 1,153 | 80% | ← Drifters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 69 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 138 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 Drifters 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 Drifters, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quayside Fishing Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2026 |
| Sophie's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 6 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2024 |
| Bakelicious Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 8 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Humbug of Lymington Retailers - other | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2022 |
| Lymington Mobiles Retailers - other | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2025 |
| Kings Head Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2026 |
| Rolys Fudge Pantry Lymington Retailers - other | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2019 |
| Coffee and Drift Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2024 |
Questions about Drifters
What is Drifters's food hygiene rating?
Drifters has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 9 September 2023.
Is Drifters 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Drifters last inspected?
Drifters was last inspected on 9 September 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by New Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Drifters?
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 Drifters compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Drifters is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Drifters 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 Drifters and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Drifters is one of 252 rated food businesses in Lymington. See every hygiene rating in Lymington →
New Forest inspects and rates 1,573 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in New Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newforest.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 →