Southern Co-Operative food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · New Forest
Southern Co-Operative holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 26 March 2025, 15 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: 45 High Street, Milford-On-Sea, Lymington, SO41 0QG
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Southern Co-Operative 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% | ← Southern Co-Operative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Southern Co-Operative 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 Southern Co-Operative, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monsoori Heights Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| Milford on Sea Club Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 4 - Good | 6 January 2025 |
| Sammy's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2024 |
| The Smugglers Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| The Paddle on the Green Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
| Mister Pink's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Butchers on the Green Retailers - other | 109 yards away | 4 - Good | 20 January 2026 |
Questions about Southern Co-Operative
What is Southern Co-Operative's food hygiene rating?
Southern Co-Operative has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 26 March 2025.
Is Southern Co-Operative 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Southern Co-Operative last inspected?
Southern Co-Operative was last inspected on 26 March 2025, 15 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 Southern Co-Operative?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Southern Co-Operative 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 Southern Co-Operative is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Southern Co-Operative 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 Southern Co-Operative and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Southern Co-Operative is one of 252 rated food businesses in Lymington. See every hygiene rating in Lymington →
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 →