Costcutter food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Bolton
Costcutter holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 14 November 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 33-37 Birch Avenue, Westhoughton, BL5 2NN
How it compares in Bolton
A 1 is rare: only 103 of 2,200 rated places in Bolton score this low, about one in 21. By contrast 55% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,220 | 55% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 476 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 315 | 14% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 76 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 103 | 5% | ← Costcutter | |
| 0 out of 5 | 10 | <1% |
A further 186 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 Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Costcutter the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. 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 Costcutter, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dessert MagicBox Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 432 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2026 |
| Big Mamma Bolton Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2025 |
| Eatock Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| B & M Bargains Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2025 |
| Capri Cafe & Restaurant Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2026 |
| Bytes Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2024 |
| French Press Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
Questions about Costcutter
What is Costcutter's food hygiene rating?
Costcutter has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Bolton Council on 14 November 2024.
Is Costcutter safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop 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 Costcutter last inspected?
Costcutter was last inspected on 14 November 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bolton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Costcutter?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Costcutter compare to other places in Bolton?
55% of the 2,200 rated food businesses in Bolton hold the top rating of 5, while Costcutter holds a 1. 103 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Bolton Council inspects Costcutter 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 Costcutter 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 1 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 Bolton, 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: Bolton
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Costcutter is one of 143 rated food businesses in Westhoughton. See every hygiene rating in Westhoughton →
Bolton inspects and rates 2,386 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bolton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bolton.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 →