The Suffolk businesses recently handed five-star food hygiene ratings, with locations in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Newmarket
When choosing a restaurant or picking a takeaway, you probably want to know if you are in safe hands in terms of quality and hygiene.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works with local authorities to enforce food safety rules and award star-ratings to businesses, giving residents an indication of the cleanliness and hygiene.
Here's a list of some of the Suffolk eateries handed the maximum five-star rating after recent inspections.
Boosh – Bury St Edmunds
This popular bar in Abbeygate Street bagged top marks on June 23.
For all three criteria – hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety – it was given a good rating.
Golden Hind – Ipswich
This family favourite in Nacton Road has been nominated for awards.
Run by Ryan and Darren Scott, the couple pride themselves on the pub serving as a community hub.
Inspectors praised its food hygiene during a visit on August 30.
It secured a very good rating in all three categories: hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety.
Kala Sheep – Newmarket
Over to Newmarket now, we find our next entry.
The Kala Sheep, in Park Lane, was visited by inspectors on August 31.
It fell just shy of scoring top points, with hygienic food handling being considered good during the review.
However, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety were considered very good.
It did, however, secure a five-star rating.
Railway Inn – Westerfield
This village pub just north of Ipswich was handed five stars after a visit on September 7.
Hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of facilities and the building were considered good by inspectors, while management of food safety was very good.
Four Horseshoes – Thornham Magna
A lot further north you’ll find this pub in Thornham Magna, near Eye.
Another village pub, it was visited by inspectors on September 8.
Inspectors considered hygienic food handling and cleanliness and condition of facilities to be good, while management of food safety was very good.
Aunty Ree’s Cookies & More – Sudbury
This Sudbury cookie shop opened on September 2, and was visited by inspectors on September 19.
Aunty Ree’s Cookies, in East Street, secured a five-star rating.
Reviewers considered all three categories – hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety – to be very good.
Cobblers Café and Wind Bar – Hadleigh
On October 9, the FSA visited Cobblers, in Hadleigh’s High Street.
It secured a five-star rating.
Inspectors considered hygienic food handling to be very good.
Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building and management of food safety, were considered good.
A G Lifestyles – Sudbury
Back in Sudbury is where we find our next entry.
A G Lifestyles, a store and café in Station Road, was handed a five-star rating on October 18.
Inspectors considered hygienic food handling and management of food safety were rated as very good, while cleanliness and condition of facilities and building was good.
Applaud – Ipswich
Back in Suffolk’s county town we find our next entry.
Applaud, popular coffee shop in St Peter’s Street, was handed a five-star rating on October 21.
All three categories – hygienic food handling, management of food safety and cleanliness and condition of facilities and building – were rated good.
It retained this rating from its previous inspection, which took place in August 2018.
Al’s Café – Ipswich
Also in Ipswich, we find out next entry.
Al’s Café, in Meredith Road, was given a five-star rating on October 23.
Inspectors praised its hygienic food handling and management of food safety, which were rated as very good.
Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building was considered good.
Cappadocia – Capel St Mary
Further south now to Capel St Mary.
Just of the A12, in London Road, you’ll find the Turkish eatery Cappadocia.
The FSA paid a visit on October 26.
In all three categories – hygienic food handling, management of food safety and cleanliness and condition of facilities and building – it was considered good.
Cock and Bell – Long Melford
Our final entry had a visit on Halloween.
The Cock & Bell in Lond Melford’s Hall Street, was also given a five-star rating.
Inspectors praised hygienic food handling and management of food safety, for which is was rated very good.
Cleanliness and management of food safety was considered good.
Understanding the ratings
The hygienic food handling category includes the preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage of foods.
Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building relates to the restaurant itself, including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control, to enable good food hygiene.
The management of food safety category relates to systems or checks in place, including paperwork, to ensure food sold or served is safe to eat, as well as evidence that staff know about food safety.
