What is the average food hygiene rating in Southampton?

The average food hygiene rating in Southampton is 4.51 out of 5, across 1,489 rated restaurants, takeaways and cafes. This is the mean of real Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, as of 2026-06-12.

How does Southampton compare with the national average for food hygiene?

68% of rated premises in Southampton hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — 11.7 percentage points below the national average of 79.7% across the 328 UK local authorities in the FHRS dataset. That ranks Southampton 291 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 Southampton have a 5-star food hygiene rating?

1,012 food businesses in Southampton hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — the highest on the FSA scale — which is 68% of the 1,489 rated premises. The most recent inspection on record is dated 8 June 2026.

How many food businesses in Southampton have a low hygiene rating?

40 food businesses in Southampton 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 Southampton food hygiene data come from?

Every figure is computed from real Food Standards Agency records for Southampton (1,706 establishments on record, 1,489 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 / Southampton

Food Hygiene Ratings in Southampton

In Southampton, 68% of 1,489 rated food businesses hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating, the highest on the Food Standards Agency scale. The average rating is 4.51/5. These figures cover 1,706 establishments on record (as of 2026-06-12).

Quick answer

Southampton has 1,012 food businesses rated 5 (Very Good) out of 1,489 rated premises (68%). 40 premises are rated 2 or below and need improvement. The most recent inspection on record is dated 8 June 2026.

5★ share: 68%
National average: 79.7%
vs national average: -11.7 pp
National rank: 291 / 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 Southampton

5★ Very Good

1,012 (68%)

4★ Good

290 (19.5%)

3★ Generally Satisfactory

147 (9.9%)

2★ Improvement Necessary

21 (1.4%)

1★ Major Improvement Necessary

17 (1.1%)

0★ Urgent Improvement Necessary

2 (0.1%)

Plus 212 awaiting inspection and 5 exempt premises (not included in the rated percentages above).

Percentages are of rated premises only. 212 awaiting inspection and 5 exempt premises are excluded from the percentages.

Food hygiene in Southampton: frequently asked questions

What is the average food hygiene rating in Southampton?: The average food hygiene rating in Southampton is 4.51 out of 5, across 1,489 rated restaurants, takeaways and cafes. This is the mean of real Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, as of 2026-06-12.
How does Southampton compare with the national average for food hygiene?: 68% of rated premises in Southampton hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — 11.7 percentage points below the national average of 79.7% across the 328 UK local authorities in the FHRS dataset. That ranks Southampton 291 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 Southampton have a 5-star food hygiene rating?: 1,012 food businesses in Southampton hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — the highest on the FSA scale — which is 68% of the 1,489 rated premises. The most recent inspection on record is dated 8 June 2026.
How many food businesses in Southampton have a low hygiene rating?: 40 food businesses in Southampton 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 Southampton food hygiene data come from?: Every figure is computed from real Food Standards Agency records for Southampton (1,706 establishments on record, 1,489 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.

Food hygiene ratings by area in Southampton

Top-rated places in Southampton

Ten PinRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Auckland Road, Southampton · SO15 0SD
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 8 June 2026
Diegos Portugese RotisserieRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · 10 - 11 Bedford Place, Southampton · SO15 2DB
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 6 June 2026
The Dancing ManPub/bar/nightclub · The Wool House, Town Quay, Southampton · SO14 2AR
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 6 June 2026
Maxims Pizza & KebabTakeaway/sandwich shop · 159 High Street, Southampton · SO14 2BT
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 6 June 2026
SUSU ShopRetailers - other · Highfield Campus, University Road, Southampton · SO17 1BJ
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 4 June 2026
Brookvale HouseCaring Premises · 4 Brookvale Road, Southampton · SO17 1QL
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 2 June 2026
Valentine Primary SchoolSchool/college/university · Valentine Avenue, Southampton · SO19 0EQ
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 2 June 2026
Thornhill Primary SchoolSchool/college/university · Byron Road, Southampton · SO19 6FH
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 2 June 2026
Weston Shore Infant SchoolSchool/college/university · Foxcott Close, Weston, Southampton · SO19 9JQ
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 2 June 2026
Bright Water InnPub/bar/nightclub · 370-372 Shirley Road, Southampton · SO15 3HY
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 1 June 2026
Thornhill Baptist ChurchRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Thornhill Park Road, Southampton · SO18 5TR
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 1 June 2026
Warren's Ice Cream LimitedMobile caterer · SO14
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 1 June 2026

Places needing improvement in Southampton

Lucky StarTakeaway/sandwich shop · 36 Bevois Valley Road, Southampton · SO14 0JR
0/5 · Urgent Improvement NecessaryInspected 20 March 2026
New OrientalTakeaway/sandwich shop · 3 Midanbury Broadway, Witts Hill, Southampton · SO18 4QD
0/5 · Urgent Improvement NecessaryInspected 18 March 2026
Bitterne Post OfficeRetailers - other · 16 West End Road, Southampton · SO18 6TG
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 11 December 2025
Victory NewsRetailers - other · 133A High Street, Southampton · SO14 2BR
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 25 February 2026
Shanghai BayRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · First Floor, 17A Above Bar Street, Southampton · SO14 7DX
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 1 April 2026
Dragon's DenTakeaway/sandwich shop · 40A Portsmouth Road, Southampton · SO19 9AD
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 10 November 2025
GOATakeaway/sandwich shop · 66 High Road, Southampton · SO16 2HZ
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 19 December 2025
Medina FoodsRetailers - other · 75 Clovelly Road, Southampton · SO14 0AT
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 14 April 2025

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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Methodology

Figures are computed from 1,706 real Food Standards Agency records for Southampton, of which 1,489 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.