The Cottage food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Tendring
The Cottage holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 22 September 2022, more than 3 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: 51 High Street, Brightlingsea, Colchester, CO7 0AQ
How it compares in Tendring
That puts The Cottage among the 775 places in Tendring holding top marks, 67% 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 | 775 | 67% | ← The Cottage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 221 | 19% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 105 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 32 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 20 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 124 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 Cottage 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 Cottage, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mughal Express Brightlingsea Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 4 - Good | 11 July 2025 |
| The Good Love Takeaway/sandwich shop | 67 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Bumbles Greengrocers Retailers - other | 93 yards away | 4 - Good | 29 July 2025 |
| Masonic Hall Other catering premises | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2017 |
| Raj Massala Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2025 |
| Graze N Table Takeaway/sandwich shop | 137 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
| Smiths of Essex Ltd Retailers - other | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2025 |
| Brightlingsea Bakery Manufacturers/packers | 138 yards away | 4 - Good | 17 May 2025 |
Questions about The Cottage
What is The Cottage's food hygiene rating?
The Cottage has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Tendring Council on 22 September 2022.
Is The Cottage 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 care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Cottage last inspected?
The Cottage was last inspected on 22 September 2022, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tendring Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Cottage?
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 Cottage compare to other places in Tendring?
67% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Tendring hold the top rating of 5, and The Cottage is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Tendring Council inspects The Cottage 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 Cottage 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 Cottage is one of 52 rated food businesses in Brightlingsea. See every hygiene rating in Brightlingsea →
Tendring inspects and rates 1,280 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tendring →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tendringdc.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 →