Sandleheath Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · New Forest
Sandleheath Stores 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
This rating dates from 28 August 2025, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: Main Road, Sandleheath, Fordingbridge, SP6 1PP
How it compares in New Forest
In New Forest, 80% of rated places manage a 5, so Sandleheath Stores sits behind roughly 1,153 nearby businesses. 13% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,153 | 80% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ← Sandleheath Stores | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
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 Sandleheath Stores 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 Sandleheath Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alderholt Mill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Rockbourne Trout Fishery Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| Educamps Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 1 - Major improvement necessary | 9 April 2025 |
| Railway Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2024 |
Questions about Sandleheath Stores
What is Sandleheath Stores's food hygiene rating?
Sandleheath Stores has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by New Forest Council on 28 August 2025.
Is Sandleheath Stores 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 Sandleheath Stores last inspected?
Sandleheath Stores was last inspected on 28 August 2025, 10 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 Sandleheath Stores?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sandleheath Stores compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, while Sandleheath Stores holds a 4. 183 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Sandleheath Stores 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 Sandleheath Stores and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sandleheath Stores is one of 90 rated food businesses in Fordingbridge. See every hygiene rating in Fordingbridge →
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 →