Lidl food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Southend-On-Sea
Lidl holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the supermarket that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Lidl was inspected on 12 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 405 - 409 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, Essex, SS9 5JG
How it compares in Southend-On-Sea
A 2 is rare: only 35 of 1,387 rated places in Southend-On-Sea score this low, about one in 40. By contrast 70% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 973 | 70% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 243 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 119 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 35 | 3% | ← Lidl | |
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 105 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building 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 Lidl the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled. 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 Lidl, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chill - South Essex College School/college/university | 395 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| Brooklands Nursing Home Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2026 |
| Badgers Lodge Care Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
| Ally's Sweet Cart Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 September 2021 |
| Cafe 401 LTD Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
| Belfairs Woodland Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2024 |
Questions about Lidl
What is Lidl's food hygiene rating?
Lidl has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Southend-On-Sea Council on 12 May 2026.
Is Lidl safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The supermarket 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 Lidl last inspected?
Lidl was last inspected on 12 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southend-On-Sea Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Lidl?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Lidl compare to other places in Southend-On-Sea?
70% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Southend-On-Sea hold the top rating of 5, while Lidl holds a 2. 35 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Southend-On-Sea Council inspects Lidl 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 Lidl 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 Southend-On-Sea, 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: Southend-On-Sea
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Lidl is one of 63 rated food businesses in Eastwood. See every hygiene rating in Eastwood →
Southend-On-Sea inspects and rates 1,492 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southend-On-Sea →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southend.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 →