Can I Appeal My Food Hygiene Rating?
How to appeal a food hygiene rating in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland — grounds for appeal, the process, re-rating visits, and right to reply.
Yes. You can appeal your food hygiene rating within 21 days of receiving the notification, but only if you believe the rating does not reflect the conditions at the time of inspection. You can also request a re-rating visit after making improvements.
Key Facts
In Detail
If you disagree with your food hygiene rating, you have three options: appeal, request a re-rating, or use the right to reply. Each serves a different purpose. An appeal must be made within 21 days of being notified of your rating. You can only appeal on the grounds that the rating does not accurately reflect the conditions at the time of inspection — for example, if you believe the inspector made an error or did not see something. The appeal is reviewed by a senior officer at the local authority who was not involved in the original inspection. If the appeal is upheld, your rating will be changed. If not, the original rating stands. You cannot appeal simply because you have made improvements since the inspection. A re-rating visit is what you need if you have made improvements and want a new score. You can request one at any time after your inspection (in England, you must wait at least 3 months; in Wales, there is no minimum wait). There is usually a fee for a re-rating visit. The officer will conduct a full inspection and your rating will be updated based on what they find. The right to reply allows you to add a comment to your published rating on the FHRS website, explaining any improvements you have made or providing context. This does not change the rating itself but appears alongside it.
When to Appeal vs Request Re-rating
Appeal if you genuinely believe the inspector got it wrong on the day — they missed evidence, misunderstood a process, or scored something incorrectly. This is relatively rare. In most cases where a business is unhappy with their rating, the inspector's assessment was accurate but the business has since made improvements. In that case, make the improvements, gather evidence (updated records, new equipment, training certificates), and request a re-rating visit. The re-rating is a fresh start — the officer assesses you from scratch.
Preparing for a Re-rating Visit
Before requesting a re-rating visit, make sure all the issues identified in your last inspection have been fully addressed. Review your inspection report and work through every item. Common improvements include: updating your food safety management system, implementing consistent record-keeping, deep cleaning and maintenance, staff training, and fixing structural issues. Do not request a re-rating until you are confident that an inspection would find significant improvement — a re-rating that returns the same or lower score wastes your fee and can be demoralising.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a re-rating visit cost?
Fees vary by local authority but are typically between £150 and £200. Some councils charge more. Check with your local authority's Environmental Health department for the exact fee.
How long does an appeal take?
Local authorities aim to process appeals within 21 days, though this can vary. During the appeal period, your rating is not published on the FHRS website. If the appeal is rejected, the original rating is published.
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