The Dolphin food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Milton Keynes
The Dolphin holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Dolphin was inspected on 14 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 82 High Street, Newport Pagnell, MK16 8AQ
How it compares in Milton Keynes
A 2 is rare: only 30 of 2,271 rated places in Milton Keynes score this low, about one in 76. By contrast 77% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,755 | 77% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 360 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 111 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 1% | ← The Dolphin | |
| 1 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 236 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 The Dolphin the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Dolphin, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Latte Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 2 November 2024 |
| Cannon Public House Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2016 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2024 |
| Douglas Butchers, Butchers Fridge Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| Moza Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 31 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
| D'oro 24 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2025 |
| Coffee Crowd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 April 2026 |
| Muratis Pizzeria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 121 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2024 |
Questions about The Dolphin
What is The Dolphin's food hygiene rating?
The Dolphin has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Milton Keynes Council on 14 May 2026.
Is The Dolphin safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Dolphin last inspected?
The Dolphin was last inspected on 14 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Milton Keynes Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Dolphin?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Dolphin compare to other places in Milton Keynes?
77% of the 2,271 rated food businesses in Milton Keynes hold the top rating of 5, while The Dolphin holds a 2. 30 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Milton Keynes Council inspects The Dolphin 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 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Milton Keynes, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Milton Keynes
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Dolphin is one of 115 rated food businesses in Newport Pagnell. See every hygiene rating in Newport Pagnell →
Milton Keynes inspects and rates 2,507 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Milton Keynes →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.milton-keynes.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 →