Food Hygiene Ratings in Dover

1,155 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.7 out of 5. 81.4% rated "very good".

1,155
Businesses
4.7/5
Average Rating
18
Rated 0 or 1
81.4%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good81.4%860
Good11.4%120
Satisfactory4.1%43
Improvement Needed1.4%15
Major Improvement1.5%16
Urgent Improvement0.2%2

Business types

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen25221.8%
Retailers - other18315.8%
Other catering premises14512.6%
Pub/bar/nightclub13311.5%
Caring Premises1049.0%
Takeaway/sandwich shop978.4%
School/college/university806.9%
Mobile caterer585.0%

Food hygiene ratings in Dover 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.

Dover currently has 1,155 registered food businesses. Of these, 1,056 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 81.4% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.7 out of 5. There are currently 18 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
New Moonflower RestaurantCT16 1EA0Dec 03, 2025
Poparound (Premier)CT3 2HH0Nov 07, 2025
Baba Food & WineCT16 1EE1Aug 20, 2025
Dover marketCT16 1DB1Jan 07, 2026
Fryer TuckCT14 6DD1May 08, 2025
Golden LionCT17 9AA1Dec 17, 2025
Little Farthingloe Farmshop And BakeryCT15 7AA1Mar 18, 2025
Luana’sCT17 0HL1Sep 25, 2025
M & N SnacksCT14 7NQ1Oct 17, 2025
Navith Brothers (Premier)CT14 9RW1May 14, 2025
New China TownCT17 9AQ1Nov 25, 2025
Red House Chinese TakeawayCT16 1DF1Nov 17, 2025
Sandwich Kebab & PizzaCT13 9BT1Nov 13, 2025
Seaside Store Limited (Premier)CT14 7DY1Nov 06, 2025
Spar SandwichCT13 9DA1Nov 12, 2025

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Dover have a 5 rating?+

There are currently 860 food businesses in Dover with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 81.4% 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 Dover?+

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 Dover?+

Inspection frequency in Dover 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