Masonic Hall food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Dorset
Masonic Hall holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the business that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Masonic Hall was inspected on 20 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 1% of rated food businesses in Dorset score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Dorset ratings →
Address: Masonic Hall Marshall Row, Swanage, BH19 2AF
How this rating has changed
Masonic Hall has gone backwards: it held a 5 before its inspection on 20 July 2026, and now holds a 2. A rating of 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 20 July 2026 | 5 2 | Worse |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Dorset
A 2 is rare: only 7 of 4,031 rated places in Dorset score this low, about one in 576. By contrast 95% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,846 | 95% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 141 | 3% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ← Masonic Hall | |
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 1,131 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 Masonic Hall the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Masonic Hall, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| H B Hibbs Retailers - other | 54 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Rainbow Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2025 |
| Gee Whites Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Masala Indian Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2024 |
| Scoopies Other catering premises | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Pier Head Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2025 |
| La Trattoria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 80 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2025 |
| Ship Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 117 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
Questions about Masonic Hall
What is Masonic Hall's food hygiene rating?
Masonic Hall has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Dorset Council on 20 July 2026.
Is Masonic Hall safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The business 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 Masonic Hall last inspected?
Masonic Hall was last inspected on 20 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dorset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Masonic Hall?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Masonic Hall compare to other places in Dorset?
95% of the 4,031 rated food businesses in Dorset hold the top rating of 5, while Masonic Hall holds a 2. 7 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Dorset Council inspects Masonic Hall 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 Masonic Hall 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 Dorset, 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: Dorset
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Masonic Hall is one of 170 rated food businesses in Swanage. See every hygiene rating in Swanage →
Dorset inspects and rates 5,162 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dorset →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.dorsetcouncil.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 →