Shell's Shellfish food hygiene rating
Mobile caterer · Epping Forest
Shell's Shellfish holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the mobile caterer met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 21 August 2025, 10 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: The Maypole, 171 Lambourne Road, Chigwell, IG7 6EF
How it compares in Epping Forest
That puts Shell's Shellfish among the 760 places in Epping Forest holding top marks, 84% 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 | 760 | 84% | ← Shell's Shellfish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 96 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 36 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 148 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 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 Shell's Shellfish 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 Shell's Shellfish, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chigwell Chinese Takeaway/sandwich shop | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 March 2025 |
| Anjuman - E Shehabi (East London) Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Bambino Nursery Chigwell Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| Coppice Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2025 |
| Busy Bees Christian Pre-school Nursery Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2025 |
| Chigwell King Butchers Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 April 2026 |
| Chigwell King Kebab & Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 April 2026 |
| 1856 Cafe and Barn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2025 |
Questions about Shell's Shellfish
What is Shell's Shellfish's food hygiene rating?
Shell's Shellfish has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Epping Forest Council on 21 August 2025.
Is Shell's Shellfish 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 mobile caterer to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Shell's Shellfish last inspected?
Shell's Shellfish was last inspected on 21 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Epping Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Shell's Shellfish?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Shell's Shellfish compare to other places in Epping Forest?
84% of the 910 rated food businesses in Epping Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Shell's Shellfish is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Epping Forest Council inspects Shell's Shellfish 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 Shell's Shellfish and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Shell's Shellfish is one of 66 rated food businesses in Chigwell. See every hygiene rating in Chigwell →
Epping Forest inspects and rates 1,058 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Epping Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eppingforestdc.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 →