What is the average food hygiene rating in New Forest?

The average food hygiene rating in New Forest is 4.69 out of 5, across 1,431 rated restaurants, takeaways and cafes. This is the mean of real Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, as of 2026-06-12.

How does New Forest compare with the national average for food hygiene?

79.9% of rated premises in New Forest hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — 0.2 percentage points above the national average of 79.7% across the 328 UK local authorities in the FHRS dataset. That ranks New Forest 181 of 328 by 5★ share (rank 1 = highest). Every figure is computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records used across this page.

How many restaurants in New Forest have a 5-star food hygiene rating?

1,143 food businesses in New Forest hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — the highest on the FSA scale — which is 79.9% of the 1,431 rated premises. The most recent inspection on record is dated 8 June 2026.

How many food businesses in New Forest have a low hygiene rating?

34 food businesses in New Forest are rated 2 or below and need improvement, including 2 rated 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary). A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may since have improved — always check the current rating at the FSA.

What does a food hygiene rating actually measure?

The FSA food hygiene rating (0–5) reflects how hygienically food is handled, the condition of the premises, and how well the business manages food safety, recorded at its last inspection. 5 is Very Good and 0 is Urgent Improvement Necessary. It is not a measure of food quality or taste.

Where does this New Forest food hygiene data come from?

Every figure is computed from real Food Standards Agency records for New Forest (1,567 establishments on record, 1,431 rated), sourced from ratings.food.gov.uk under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as of 2026-06-12. No estimates or survey data are mixed in.

GeraEats / Food hygiene ratings / New Forest

Food Hygiene Ratings in New Forest

In New Forest, 79.9% of 1,431 rated food businesses hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating, the highest on the Food Standards Agency scale. The average rating is 4.69/5. These figures cover 1,567 establishments on record (as of 2026-06-12).

Quick answer

New Forest has 1,143 food businesses rated 5 (Very Good) out of 1,431 rated premises (79.9%). 34 premises are rated 2 or below and need improvement. The most recent inspection on record is dated 8 June 2026.

5★ share: 79.9%
National average: 79.7%
vs national average: +0.2 pp
National rank: 181 / 328

Ranked by 5★ share among 328 UK local authorities in our FHRS dataset (rank 1 = highest share). Both figures are computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records.

Rating distribution in New Forest

5★ Very Good

1,143 (79.9%)

4★ Good

190 (13.3%)

3★ Generally Satisfactory

64 (4.5%)

2★ Improvement Necessary

8 (0.6%)

1★ Major Improvement Necessary

24 (1.7%)

0★ Urgent Improvement Necessary

2 (0.1%)

Plus 41 awaiting inspection and 95 exempt premises (not included in the rated percentages above).

Percentages are of rated premises only. 41 awaiting inspection and 95 exempt premises are excluded from the percentages.

Food hygiene in New Forest: frequently asked questions

What is the average food hygiene rating in New Forest?: The average food hygiene rating in New Forest is 4.69 out of 5, across 1,431 rated restaurants, takeaways and cafes. This is the mean of real Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, as of 2026-06-12.
How does New Forest compare with the national average for food hygiene?: 79.9% of rated premises in New Forest hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — 0.2 percentage points above the national average of 79.7% across the 328 UK local authorities in the FHRS dataset. That ranks New Forest 181 of 328 by 5★ share (rank 1 = highest). Every figure is computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records used across this page.
How many restaurants in New Forest have a 5-star food hygiene rating?: 1,143 food businesses in New Forest hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — the highest on the FSA scale — which is 79.9% of the 1,431 rated premises. The most recent inspection on record is dated 8 June 2026.
How many food businesses in New Forest have a low hygiene rating?: 34 food businesses in New Forest are rated 2 or below and need improvement, including 2 rated 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary). A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may since have improved — always check the current rating at the FSA.
What does a food hygiene rating actually measure?: The FSA food hygiene rating (0–5) reflects how hygienically food is handled, the condition of the premises, and how well the business manages food safety, recorded at its last inspection. 5 is Very Good and 0 is Urgent Improvement Necessary. It is not a measure of food quality or taste.
Where does this New Forest food hygiene data come from?: Every figure is computed from real Food Standards Agency records for New Forest (1,567 establishments on record, 1,431 rated), sourced from ratings.food.gov.uk under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as of 2026-06-12. No estimates or survey data are mixed in.

Top-rated places in New Forest

THE LITTLE MOBILE COFFEE CORetailers - other · SP6
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 8 June 2026
WAITROSERetailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · 49 HIGH STREET, HYTHE, SOUTHAMPTON · SO45 6AG
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 3 June 2026
THE MORTIMER ARMSPub/bar/nightclub · ROMSEY ROAD, OWER, ROMSEY · SO51 6AF
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 2 June 2026
SUNNYFIELDSRetailers - other · JACOBS GUTTER LANE, TOTTON, SOUTHAMPTON · SO40 9FX
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 2 June 2026
SOUTH BADDESLEY C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL & NURSERYSchool/college/university · SOUTH BADDESLEY ROAD, SOUTH BADDESLEY, LYMINGTON · SO41 5RP
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 1 June 2026
THE ROYAL OAKPub/bar/nightclub · RINGWOOD ROAD, NORTH GORLEY, FORDINGBRIDGE · SP6 2PB
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 1 June 2026
BADGERS HOLT RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMECaring Premises · BUTTS ASH LANE, HYTHE, SOUTHAMPTON · SO45 3QY
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 27 May 2026
NEEDLES EYE CAFERestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · HURST ROAD, MILFORD-ON-SEA, LYMINGTON · SO41 0PY
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 27 May 2026
ELYSERestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · 16 HIGH STREET, LYNDHURST · SO43 7BD
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 21 May 2026
MEG'S BAKESRetailers - other · SO40
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 21 May 2026
THE BREAD SHEDRetailers - other · SO45
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 21 May 2026
IMPALA COFFEERetailers - other · SO41
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 20 May 2026

Places needing improvement in New Forest

DREAM GOURMET CHINESE FOODTakeaway/sandwich shop · 50 OLD MILTON ROAD, NEW MILTON · BH25 6DX
0/5 · Urgent Improvement NecessaryInspected 18 November 2025
THE RAJRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · 1 OLD MILTON GREEN PARADE, NEW MILTON · BH25 6QA
0/5 · Urgent Improvement NecessaryInspected 4 March 2026
THE TOWNHOUSEPub/bar/nightclub · STANFORD ROAD, LYMINGTON · SO41 9GF
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 22 November 2025
GLOBE FIT LTDCaring Premises · PENNINGTON COUNTY INFANT SCHOOL, PRIESTLANDS ROAD, PENNINGTON, LYMINGTON · SO41 8HX
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 23 August 2025
THE STAR INNPub/bar/nightclub · 12 MARKET PLACE, RINGWOOD · BH24 1AW
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 20 March 2026
THE FISHERMANS RESTPub/bar/nightclub · ALL SAINTS ROAD, LYMINGTON · SO41 8FD
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 22 November 2025
MOORLAND NEWS & WINERetailers - other · 2-2A RUNNYMEADE, RINGWOOD ROAD, BRANSGORE, CHRISTCHURCH · BH23 8NJ
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 6 November 2024
THE CROWN INNPub/bar/nightclub · 4 OLD CHRISTCHURCH ROAD, EVERTON, LYMINGTON · SO41 0JJ
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 1 May 2026

A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may have since improved. Always check the current rating at the FSA before drawing conclusions.

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Across the Gera ecosystem

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GeraCompliance — food safety and regulatory checks for businesses.

Methodology

Figures are computed from 1,567 real Food Standards Agency records for New Forest, of which 1,431 carry a 0–5 hygiene rating. The average is the mean of those ratings; percentages exclude awaiting-inspection and exempt premises. No estimates or survey data are mixed in. Data as of 2026-06-12.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Food hygiene ratings are sourced from the Food Standards Agency at ratings.food.gov.uk. Ratings reflect the most recent inspection on record and may have changed since publication.