Shell Birch food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Mid Sussex
Shell Birch holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 3 February 2025, 17 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: Shell Birch, 5 Lewes Road, Haywards Heath, RH17 7SE
How it compares in Mid Sussex
That puts Shell Birch among the 1,031 places in Mid Sussex holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,031 | 83% | ← Shell Birch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 127 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 59 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 116 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 Very 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 Shell Birch 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 Shell Birch, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five A Day Greengrocers Retailers - other | 238 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 April 2026 |
| Haywards Heath Foodbank Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 June 2023 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2022 |
| Green City Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Haywards Heath Football Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2026 |
| C. N. Guy & Son Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 January 2025 |
| Aspen Lodge Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2025 |
| China Brasserie Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2025 |
Questions about Shell Birch
What is Shell Birch's food hygiene rating?
Shell Birch has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Sussex Council on 3 February 2025.
Is Shell Birch 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Shell Birch last inspected?
Shell Birch was last inspected on 3 February 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Sussex Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Shell Birch?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Shell Birch compare to other places in Mid Sussex?
83% of the 1,248 rated food businesses in Mid Sussex hold the top rating of 5, and Shell Birch is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Sussex Council inspects Shell Birch 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 Shell Birch and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Shell Birch is one of 337 rated food businesses in Haywards Heath. See every hygiene rating in Haywards Heath →
Mid Sussex inspects and rates 1,364 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Sussex →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsussex.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 →