Food Hygiene Ratings in Chelmsford

1,574 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.9 out of 5. 92.0% rated "very good".

1,574
Businesses
4.9/5
Average Rating
13
Rated 0 or 1
92.0%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good92.0%1,315
Good5.5%79
Satisfactory1.3%18
Improvement Needed0.3%4
Major Improvement0.8%12
Urgent Improvement0.1%1

Business types

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen38724.6%
Other catering premises31620.1%
Retailers - other21313.5%
School/college/university1247.9%
Pub/bar/nightclub1157.3%
Mobile caterer1157.3%
Takeaway/sandwich shop1096.9%
Caring Premises946.0%

Food hygiene ratings in Chelmsford are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.

Chelmsford currently has 1,574 registered food businesses. Of these, 1,429 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 92.0% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.9 out of 5. There are currently 13 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they require urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.

If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.

Data last updated: March 14, 2026

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
Polska BabkaCM1 0May 02, 2025
0007 ExpressCM1 1SH1Jan 09, 2025
Almas MarketCM2 0LG1Jan 06, 2026
China GardenCM1 6LL1Jan 21, 2026
El MaestroCM1 1JA1Nov 10, 2025
KJ MarshallCM3 8HE1Dec 06, 2024
Royal Engineers Social ClubCM2 6LN1Mar 19, 2025
Seamoss ProfessionalCM3 1Jun 28, 2024
Super Doner And KebabCM1 4DP1Feb 04, 2026
The PierCM2 5PP1Jan 14, 2026
Tonios CucinaCM1 1Jul 09, 2025
Tropiway Continental GrocersCM1 1JA1Nov 21, 2025
Walthambury StoresCM3 1ET1Aug 13, 2025
Athens Bar Meze Greek And Mediterranean RestaurantCM1 1JA2Sep 15, 2025
Food WarehouseCM1 1AN2Jan 23, 2026

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Chelmsford have a 5 rating?+

There are currently 1,315 food businesses in Chelmsford with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 92.0% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.

What does a food hygiene rating of 1 mean in Chelmsford?+

A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.

How often are food businesses inspected in Chelmsford?+

Inspection frequency in Chelmsford depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.

Data from official government food safety agencies