Waitrose food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · New Forest
Waitrose 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 16 October 2024, 20 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: The Furlong, Ringwood, BH24 1AT
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Waitrose 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% | ← Waitrose | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Waitrose 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 Waitrose, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe W Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2021 |
| COOK Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 October 2017 |
| Holland and Barrett Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 11 May 2016 |
| The Boston Tea Party Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Hotel Chocolat Retail Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 5 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 7 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2026 |
| Sushi Daily Retailers - other | 7 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 April 2026 |
| Coop Ringwood Pub/bar/nightclub | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 October 2025 |
Questions about Waitrose
What is Waitrose's food hygiene rating?
Waitrose has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 16 October 2024.
Is Waitrose 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 Waitrose last inspected?
Waitrose was last inspected on 16 October 2024, 20 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 Waitrose?
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 Waitrose 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 Waitrose is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Waitrose 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 Waitrose 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
Waitrose is one of 158 rated food businesses in Ringwood. See every hygiene rating in Ringwood →
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 →