Caterlink at Hounsdown School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · New Forest
Caterlink at Hounsdown School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 October 2024, 21 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Hounsdown School, Jacobs Gutter Lane, Totton, SO40 9FT
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Caterlink at Hounsdown School 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% | ← Caterlink at Hounsdown School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Caterlink at Hounsdown School 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 Caterlink at Hounsdown School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court House Catering Ltd/Big Blue Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2026 |
| Cinnamon Indian Takeaway Also Trading AS Shapla Tandoori Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2024 |
| Eling Sailing Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2014 |
| Eling Tide Mill Manufacturers/packers | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 April 2018 |
| Coffee Oasis Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 October 2024 |
| Co-Operative Group Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| Charcoal Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2023 |
| Forest Park Primary School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
Questions about Caterlink at Hounsdown School
What is Caterlink at Hounsdown School's food hygiene rating?
Caterlink at Hounsdown School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 7 October 2024.
Is Caterlink at Hounsdown School 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 school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Caterlink at Hounsdown School last inspected?
Caterlink at Hounsdown School was last inspected on 7 October 2024, 21 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 Caterlink at Hounsdown School?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Caterlink at Hounsdown School 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 Caterlink at Hounsdown School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Caterlink at Hounsdown School 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 Caterlink at Hounsdown School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Caterlink at Hounsdown School 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 →