Dishing out local food ratings and kitchen kudos

Whether you're planning a night out, grabbing lunch on the go, or ordering your favourite takeaway, it's easier than ever to make sure the place you choose takes food hygiene seriously.

Those green and black 'Scores on the Doors' stickers you see in café and restaurant windows are part of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, run by the Food Standards Agency and delivered locally by West Berkshire Council's Environmental  Health Officers.

The ratings give clear, reliable information about how well businesses are meeting food hygiene standards. After a thorough inspection, each business receives a score from 0 to 5. A 5 means hygiene standards are very good, while a 0 means urgent improvement is needed.

The rating is a snapshot of the conditions on the day of inspection, and reflects hygiene only, not food quality or customer service.

"It's easier than ever to make sure the place you choose takes food hygiene seriously."

Inspections look at three key areas:

• How food is handled - preparation, cooking, cooling, and storage
• The condition of the premises - cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, and pest control
• How food safety is managed - staff training, record keeping and processes

West Berkshire has excellent results to be proud of. By the end of 2025, 87% of food premises had achieved the top score of 5, with no businesses rated 0 and only seven rated 1.

Know before you go

Businesses are encouraged to display their rating stickers proudly, and these can also be checked online at ratings.food.gov.uk or via many online food delivery platforms.