Mason's Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · New Forest
Mason's Stores 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
The rating dates from 25 February 2025, 16 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: 1 Main Road, Totton, Southampton, SO40 7EP
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Mason's Stores 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% | ← Mason's Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 Mason's Stores 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 Mason's Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterlink at Hounsdown School School/college/university | 311 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2024 |
| Court House Catering Ltd/Big Blue Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 355 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2026 |
| Hampshire Foods Distributors/Transporters | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2022 |
| Ashurst Pre-School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Foxhills County Junior School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2025 |
| Foxhills Infant School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2025 |
| Cinnamon Indian Takeaway Also Trading AS Shapla Tandoori Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2024 |
| Hawkins Catering Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
Questions about Mason's Stores
What is Mason's Stores's food hygiene rating?
Mason's Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 25 February 2025.
Is Mason's Stores 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 Mason's Stores last inspected?
Mason's Stores was last inspected on 25 February 2025, 16 months 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 Mason's Stores?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Mason's Stores 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 Mason's Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Mason's Stores 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 Mason's Stores and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Mason's Stores is one of 133 rated food businesses in Totton. See every hygiene rating in Totton →
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 →