Bowkett's Off Licence food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Forest of Dean
Bowkett's Off Licence holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 19 March 2002, more than 24 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: 16 Commercial Street, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 2RR
How it compares in Forest of Dean
In Forest of Dean, 95% of rated places manage a 5, so Bowkett's Off Licence sits behind roughly 651 nearby businesses. 5% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 651 | 95% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 31 | 5% | ← Bowkett's Off Licence | |
| 3 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 115 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Bowkett's Off Licence 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 Bowkett's Off Licence, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Chippy Cinderford Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| C \& J Bakery Retailers - other | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2024 |
| Cinderford Stores Retailers - other | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2019 |
| Fairchild Coffee House Cinderford Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| CANDI Unlimited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 99 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2024 |
| The Dog House Cinderford Pub/bar/nightclub | 142 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2021 |
| Camerons Quality Butchers Retailers - other | 150 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
| Cinderford Pizza Kebab House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 150 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2024 |
Questions about Bowkett's Off Licence
What is Bowkett's Off Licence's food hygiene rating?
Bowkett's Off Licence has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Forest of Dean Council on 19 March 2002.
Is Bowkett's Off Licence safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Bowkett's Off Licence last inspected?
Bowkett's Off Licence was last inspected on 19 March 2002, more than 24 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Forest of Dean Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bowkett's Off Licence?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Bowkett's Off Licence compare to other places in Forest of Dean?
95% of the 687 rated food businesses in Forest of Dean hold the top rating of 5, while Bowkett's Off Licence holds a 4. 31 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Forest of Dean Council inspects Bowkett's Off Licence 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.
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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 Bowkett's Off Licence and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bowkett's Off Licence is one of 82 rated food businesses in Cinderford. See every hygiene rating in Cinderford →
Forest of Dean inspects and rates 802 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Forest of Dean →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.fdean.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 →