Nicholsons food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Portsmouth
Nicholsons holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The business met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 8 January 2026, 6 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: 245 - 247 Albert Road, Southsea, PO4 0JR
How it compares in Portsmouth
In Portsmouth, 64% of rated places manage a 5, so Nicholsons sits behind roughly 1,288 nearby businesses. 8% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 978 | 64% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 310 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 124 | 8% | ← Nicholsons | |
| 2 out of 5 | 67 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 53 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 269 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Nicholsons 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.
What the business says
<p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> Following the inspection, we would like to clarify a number of points.</p> <p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> 1. Our HACCP documentation is fully up to date; however, during the visit a member of staff mistakenly directed the officer to an older file. This has since been corrected and all staff have been re-briefed.</p> <p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> 2. All required cleaning chemicals were present and in use on site, each stored in separate, designated bottles. The member of staff questioned during the inspection is not a native English speaker and appears to have misunderstood the question regarding the different cleaning products in use, which may have led to confusion. Clear labelling and staff instruction have since been reinforced..</p> <p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> 3. Hot water is fully operational at the bar area, with both sinks connected to the central hot water system.</p> <p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> 4. The basement area is used solely for dry storage, with all items stored off the floor on appropriate shelving. Further improvements on basement flooring are planned as part of a phased programme of works.</p> <p> We remain committed to maintaining high food safety standards and continuous improvement. Many thanks for the attention to this matter.</p>
Businesses have a right to reply to their rating. This response is published by the Food Standards Agency alongside the score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Nicholsons, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Parisian Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2025 |
| Caterlink At Craneswater Junior School School/college/university | 201 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Bluebell Nursing Home Caring Premises | 310 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Alton Manor Care Home Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2026 |
| Casa De Castro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2024 |
| Canoe Lake Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Broadway Coffee Roasters Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2025 |
| Canoe Lake Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2026 |
Questions about Nicholsons
What is Nicholsons's food hygiene rating?
Nicholsons has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Portsmouth Council on 8 January 2026.
Is Nicholsons safe to eat at?
A 3 means the business met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Nicholsons last inspected?
Nicholsons was last inspected on 8 January 2026, 6 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Portsmouth Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Nicholsons?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Nicholsons compare to other places in Portsmouth?
64% of the 1,534 rated food businesses in Portsmouth hold the top rating of 5, while Nicholsons holds a 3. 124 places in the area share that rating.
Has Nicholsons responded to its rating?
Yes. Businesses have a right to reply, published alongside the rating. Nicholsons said: “<p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> Following the inspection, we would like to clarify a number of points.</p> <p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> 1. Our HACCP documentation is fully up to date; however, during the visit a member of staff mistakenly directed the officer to an older file. This has since been corrected and all staff have been re-briefed.</p> <p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> 2. All required cleaning chemicals were present and in use on site, each stored in separate, designated bottles. The member of staff questioned during the inspection is not a native English speaker and appears to have misunderstood the question regarding the different cleaning products in use, which may have led to confusion. Clear labelling and staff instruction have since been reinforced..</p> <p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> 3. Hot water is fully operational at the bar area, with both sinks connected to the central hot water system.</p> <p style="margin-left:22.95pt;"> 4. The basement area is used solely for dry storage, with all items stored off the floor on appropriate shelving. Further improvements on basement flooring are planned as part of a phased programme of works.</p> <p> We remain committed to maintaining high food safety standards and continuous improvement. Many thanks for the attention to this matter.</p>”
Who decides the rating?
Portsmouth Council inspects Nicholsons 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
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More food hygiene ratings near here
Nicholsons is one of 541 rated food businesses in Southsea. See every hygiene rating in Southsea →
Portsmouth inspects and rates 1,803 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Portsmouth →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk
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