The Dolphin Inn food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · East Suffolk
The Dolphin Inn holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 February 2024, more than 2 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: Old Homes Road, Thorpeness, Aldringham cum Thorpe, IP16 4FE
How it compares in East Suffolk
That puts The Dolphin Inn among the 1,994 places in East Suffolk holding top marks, 86% 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 | 1,994 | 86% | ← The Dolphin Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 212 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 202 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 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 Dolphin Inn 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 Dolphin Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorpeness Country Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 288 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
| Mrs Kirsten Everett Wuurman Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 366 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| The Kitchen @ Thorpeness Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 366 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Thorpeness Hotel And Golf Club Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
| Green Light Trust Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
Questions about The Dolphin Inn
What is The Dolphin Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Dolphin Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Suffolk Council on 16 February 2024.
Is The Dolphin Inn 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Dolphin Inn last inspected?
The Dolphin Inn was last inspected on 16 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Dolphin Inn?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Dolphin Inn compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,317 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and The Dolphin Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects The Dolphin Inn 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 Dolphin Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
East Suffolk inspects and rates 2,519 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastsuffolk.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 →