The Atkinson food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Sefton
The Atkinson 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 22 November 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: Southport Arts Centre Cambridg, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB
How it compares in Sefton
That puts The Atkinson among the 1,796 places in Sefton 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 | 1,796 | 84% | ← The Atkinson | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 216 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 83 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 265 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 The Atkinson 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 Atkinson, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe 1821 Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 106 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 115 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2023 |
| Carlton Pub/bar/nightclub | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2023 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 134 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 162 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2024 |
| Cake Corner t/a Brunch N' Bagel Other catering premises | 171 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2025 |
| Avenue Pub/bar/nightclub | 174 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2018 |
| 600 Degrees Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 177 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2026 |
Questions about The Atkinson
What is The Atkinson's food hygiene rating?
The Atkinson has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Sefton Council on 22 November 2023.
Is The Atkinson 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 The Atkinson last inspected?
The Atkinson was last inspected on 22 November 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sefton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Atkinson?
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 The Atkinson compare to other places in Sefton?
84% of the 2,128 rated food businesses in Sefton hold the top rating of 5, and The Atkinson is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Sefton Council inspects The Atkinson 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 Atkinson 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 Atkinson is one of 656 rated food businesses in Southport. See every hygiene rating in Southport →
Sefton inspects and rates 2,393 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sefton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sefton.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 →