Benchwood food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · New Forest
Benchwood 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 29 January 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: 33 High Street, Lyndhurst, SO43 7BE
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Benchwood 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% | ← Benchwood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- 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 Benchwood 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 Benchwood, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Forage Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 19 January 2026 |
| Peggy May's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Renoufs Cheese and Wine Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 23 November 2024 |
| Tesco Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2021 |
| The Greenwood Tree Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2025 |
| The Mailmans at Lyndhurst Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| BAKEHOUSE24 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 25 November 2025 |
| Forest Glade Ice Cream Limited Retailers - other | at this address | 4 - Good | 29 September 2022 |
Questions about Benchwood
What is Benchwood's food hygiene rating?
Benchwood has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 29 January 2025.
Is Benchwood 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 Benchwood last inspected?
Benchwood was last inspected on 29 January 2025, 17 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 Benchwood?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Benchwood 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 Benchwood is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Benchwood 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 Benchwood 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
Benchwood is one of 82 rated food businesses in Lyndhurst. See every hygiene rating in Lyndhurst →
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 →