Cottonbuds food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · West Northamptonshire
Cottonbuds holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the restaurant are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 4 February 2022, more than 4 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 79 St Leonards Road, Far Cotton, Northampton, NN1 3LW
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
In West Northamptonshire, 78% of rated places manage a 5, so Cottonbuds sits behind roughly 2,565 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,565 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 377 | 11% | ← Cottonbuds | |
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 44 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 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 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 Cottonbuds 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 Cottonbuds, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balti King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 266 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| Bestpol Supermarket Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 273 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 November 2023 |
| @MP Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 332 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 November 2023 |
| ALDI Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 373 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2024 |
| Asian Express Takeaway/sandwich shop | 416 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2025 |
| Age UK Northamptonshire Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
| Artizan Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2024 |
| Albert J Ramsbottom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2024 |
Questions about Cottonbuds
What is Cottonbuds's food hygiene rating?
Cottonbuds has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 4 February 2022.
Is Cottonbuds 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 restaurant to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Cottonbuds last inspected?
Cottonbuds was last inspected on 4 February 2022, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Cottonbuds?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Cottonbuds compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, while Cottonbuds holds a 4. 377 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects Cottonbuds 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 Cottonbuds and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cottonbuds is one of 1,617 rated food businesses in Northampton. See every hygiene rating in Northampton →
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →