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Suffolk businesses recently handed five-star food hygiene ratings, with locations in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Stowmarket, Felixstowe and more




When choosing somewhere to eat, you probably want to know if you are in safe hands when it comes to 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 is a list of some of the Suffolk businesses handed high hygiene ratings after recent inspections.

Some of the Suffolk businesses handed five-star food hygiene ratings in recent inspections.
Some of the Suffolk businesses handed five-star food hygiene ratings in recent inspections.

Fisherman’s Basket, Stowmarket

Fisherman's Basket, in Stowmarket. Picture: Google
Fisherman's Basket, in Stowmarket. Picture: Google

For our first entry, we look to this chippy in Stowmarket.

The FSA said Fisherman’s Basket, in Wolsey Road, was handed a five-star rating on January 11.

In the three categories hygienic food handling, management of food safety and cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, it was awarded a good rating.

Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich

Steamboat Tavern, in Ipswich. Picture: Google
Steamboat Tavern, in Ipswich. Picture: Google

This pub on the banks of the River Orwell secured the top rating when the FSA came knocking on January 23.

Steamboat Tavern, in New Cut West, Ipswich, is known for live music, a changing roster of beers and its sizable beer garden.

It was also awarded a good rating in all three categories.

It also maintains a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor after 28 reviews.

One reviewer described it as ‘how a proper pub should be’ in a five-star review, praising friendly staff and its selection of beers – and described it as a really enjoyable visit.

Lenny’s, Hadleigh

Lenny's Fish and Chips, in Hadleigh. Picture: Google
Lenny's Fish and Chips, in Hadleigh. Picture: Google

Over in Hadleigh, we find this popular chippy.

Lenny’s, in Angel Street, scored top marks when the FSA visited on February 20.

In all three categories of hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of the facilities and the building and management of food safety, it bagged very good ratings.

This earned the business a five-star rating.

Lenny’s has a four-star rating on TripAdvisor after 20 reviews, with punters praising the clean store and excellent service.

New Happy House, Eye

New Happy House, in Eye. Picture: Google
New Happy House, in Eye. Picture: Google

Over to Eye now, where we find this Chinese takeaway.

New Happy House, in Castle Street, was handed a five-star rating by the FSA on February 29.

The business was also handed good ratings in all three categories.

Café Marina, Ipswich

Café Marina, on Ipswich Waterfront. Picture: Google
Café Marina, on Ipswich Waterfront. Picture: Google

On Ipswich waterfront, this popular café also bagged a top score during its last inspection.

Café Marina, in Duke Street, secured a five-star hygiene rating on February 29.

Like our previous entry, it also secured good ratings in all three categories.

It maintains a four-star rating on TripAdvisor. One reviewer said it was the perfect breakfast spot, while a one-star review criticised portion sizes.

Blue Salt, Woodbridge

Blue Salt, in Woodbridge. Picture: Google
Blue Salt, in Woodbridge. Picture: Google

In nearby Woodbridge, we find our next entry.

Blue Salt, in Cumberland Street, impressed inspectors when they paid a visit on March 19.

During the review, the FSA thought its hygienic food handling, management of food safety and cleanliness and the condition of the building and its facilities were worthy of praise.

In all three categories they earned very good ratings, earning it the coveted five-star hygiene score.

Anatolia, Felixstowe

Anatolia, in Orwell Road. Picture: Google
Anatolia, in Orwell Road. Picture: Google

This Turkish eatery in Felixstowe also earned a five-star rating from the FSA.

Anatolia, in Orwell Road, earned a good rating in all three categories.

The restaurant is popular with locals, maintaining a five-star TripAdvisor rating after 363 reviews, making it the third highest-rated place to eat in the area.

Its food and service were subject to particular praise.

Jenny’s Burger, Haverhill

For our first and only entry in Haverhill, we find ourselves in Queen Street.

Jenny’s Burger left a mouth-watering impression when visited by the FSA on March 27.

When it came to hygienic food handling, management of food safety and cleanliness and the condition of the building and its facilities, it scored a good rating in all three.

This earned it a five-star food hygiene rating.

However, the eatery has polarised customers. It has a 1-star rating on TripAdvisor, with three reviewers urging punters to stay away.

Despite this, it maintains a 4.4-star rating on Google Reviews.

Langams, Stowmarket

Langams bagged a five-star rating. Picture: Google
Langams bagged a five-star rating. Picture: Google

This Stowmarket café also scored a five-star rating recently.

Langams, in Market Place, was visited by the FSA on April 5.

When it came to hygienic food handling and cleanliness and the condition of the building and facilities, it earned a good rating.

However, its management of food safety impressed inspectors, who awarded the café a very good score.

Aldeburgh Fish and Chips

Aldebrugh Fish and Chip Shop. Picture: Google
Aldebrugh Fish and Chip Shop. Picture: Google

Our next entry should need no introduction for anyone who has travelled to the seaside during the summer months.

Aldeburgh Fish and Chip Shop, in High Street, has been in business since 1967.

The FSA was pleased with what it saw in a report dated April 10.

When it came to hygienic food handling it scored a very good rating. Cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, as well as management of food safety, were rated as good.

More than 1,200 people have reviewed the eatery on TripAdvisor, where it sits at an impressive 4-star rating.

A Leeder Butchers, Boxford

A. Leeder Butchers, in Boxford. Picture: Google
A. Leeder Butchers, in Boxford. Picture: Google

Near Sudbury, we find the only butchers shop to make this list.

A. Leeder Butchers, in Swan Street, Boxford, was handed a five-star rating by the FSA on April 30.

The store has been serving the community since 2007.

A Leeder Butchers scored a good rating in all three categories: hygienic food handling, management of food safety and cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building.

Blue Fig, Bury St Edmunds

Blue Fig opened in Bury in February. Picture: Sam Harrison
Blue Fig opened in Bury in February. Picture: Sam Harrison

Over in Bury St Edmunds, this recently-opened Mediterranean-inspired restaurant woo’d inspectors.

Blue Fig, in Abbeygate Street, was handed a five-star rating on May 1.

What most impressed reviewers was the cleanliness and condition of its facilities and building, which scored a very good rating.

Hygienic food handling and management of food safety bagged good ratings.

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 staff know about food safety.