NoteSpoke & Stringer is no longer a trading café brand. The cafés closed in 2024. This site is the operating lessons that came out of fifteen years running them. Read the story

What food hygiene rating would you get if the EHO turned up today?

By Kristian

Why this matters

The FHRS rating is the score the EHO writes on the form at the end of an inspection. Five is the top. Zero is "urgent improvement required". For most operators the difference between a 4 and a 5 is fewer than five specific things, and you can fix four of them in an afternoon.

We dropped from a 5 to a 4 once at Welsh Back, on a single inspection, because our hand-wash basin had no hot water (the boiler had tripped that morning and nobody noticed). It took us six weeks to get the re-inspection booked and another six weeks to get the sticker updated. That whole time we were a 4 in the window. Not great for trade.

Knowing where you sit now, before the inspector turns up, is the entire game.

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How to read your results

The output is a predicted score, plus a breakdown of the three areas the FHRS looks at:

  • Hygiene. How you handle, prepare, cook, store, and clean.
  • Structural. The building itself: cleaning surfaces, ventilation, pest control, layout.
  • Management. Your records, your training, your HACCP plan, your written procedures.

The third one is where most operators lose points. The kitchen looks fine, the structure is fine, but the paper trail is patchy. The inspector cannot give a 5 without the paper trail.

FAQs

Is the FHRS score legally required?
In England, no, you do not have to display the sticker. In Wales and Northern Ireland, yes. That said, customers in England look it up online before booking, so the practical answer is: it matters everywhere.
How long does an FHRS score last?
Until the next inspection. The next inspection is scheduled based on the risk band the council puts you in, which is set partly by your last score. A high score buys you a longer gap.
Can I get re-inspected for a higher rating?
Yes. Once. Request it in writing once you have addressed the issues. There is usually no fee for the first re-inspection. The inspector will not give you advance notice.