Food Hygiene Ratings in Dover

1,211 food businesses in the source snapshot. Average rating: 4.7 out of 5. 81.8% rated "very good".

1,211
Businesses
4.7/5
Average Rating
16
Rated 0 or 1
81.8%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good81.8%906
Good10.2%113
Satisfactory5.1%56
Improvement Needed1.4%16
Major Improvement1.4%15
Urgent Improvement0.1%1

Business types

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen24820.5%
Retailers - other18915.6%
Other catering premises14612.1%
Pub/bar/nightclub13811.4%
Caring Premises1068.8%
Takeaway/sandwich shop967.9%
School/college/university836.9%
Manufacturers/packers786.4%

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. Inspections are carried out by trained environmental health officers; not every registered business has a published rating. 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.

The source snapshot contains 1,211 registered food businesses for Dover. Of these, 1,107 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 81.8% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.7 out of 5. The snapshot contains 16 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they required 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.

Source snapshots

Retrieval is not an inspection date. Ratings may change; verify individual businesses with the official authority. Missing or conflicting results are not counted as a pass.

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
Poparound (Premier)CT3 2HH0Nov 07, 2025
Baba Food & WineCT16 1EE1Aug 20, 2025
Dover marketCT16 1DB1Jan 07, 2026
Embassy Truck ParkCT13 9DE1Jul 07, 2026
Golden LionCT17 9AA1Dec 17, 2025
Key StoresCT14 6PU1Jul 01, 2026
M & N SnacksCT14 7NQ1Oct 17, 2025
Premier (Eastry Village Supermarket)CT13 0HE1Jun 05, 2026
Seaside Store Limited (Premier)CT14 7DY1Nov 06, 2025
Sips n Giggles LtdCT3 3DZ1Aug 11, 2026
The Bay BistroCT15 6DH1Sep 09, 2026
The Crown InnCT15 4BG1Feb 18, 2026
The Dovorian RestaurantCT17 9AB1May 29, 2026
The SmugglersCT15 6AU1Mar 16, 2026
Town and county storeCT14 7NS1Mar 17, 2026

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Dover have a 5 rating?+

The source snapshot contains 906 food businesses in Dover with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 81.8% 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