Cottenham's food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Mid Sussex
Cottenham's 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
This is a fresh result: Cottenham's was inspected on 27 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Cottenhams, 40 High Street, Lindfield, RH16 2HL
How it compares in Mid Sussex
That puts Cottenham's 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% | ← Cottenham's | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Cottenham's 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 Cottenham's, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messy Church Other catering premises | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2025 |
| Lindfield Coffee Works Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 132 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2025 |
| Le Flamant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Compton House Christian Nursing Home Caring Premises | 273 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Lindfield Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 September 2021 |
| Lindfield Football Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Norto5 Kidz Academy Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| All Saints Church Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2025 |
Questions about Cottenham's
What is Cottenham's's food hygiene rating?
Cottenham's has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Sussex Council on 27 May 2026.
Is Cottenham's 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 Cottenham's last inspected?
Cottenham's was last inspected on 27 May 2026, a month 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 Cottenham's?
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 Cottenham's 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 Cottenham's is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Sussex Council inspects Cottenham's 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 Cottenham's and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cottenham's 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 →