How Do You Request a Food Hygiene Reinspection?

If you have received a food hygiene rating that you believe does not reflect your current standards — typically after making improvements following a poor inspection — you can request a reinspection from your local authority. The request should be made in writing (email is usually acceptable) to the environmental health department of your local council. You should clearly state that you have addressed the issues identified in the previous inspection and request a revisit to reassess your rating. Timing is crucial. Do not request a reinspection until you are confident that all the issues raised have been fully addressed. A reinspection is a fresh, full assessment — it is not limited to checking only the previously identified issues. If the officer finds new problems, or if previously identified issues have not been adequately resolved, your rating could stay the same or even decrease. Take the time to thoroughly address every point in the inspection report, ensure your documentation is complete and current, and ideally have an internal review or ask a food safety consultant to audit your premises before requesting the revisit. In England, most local authorities provide one free reinspection following a rating of 0, 1, or 2. Subsequent reinspection requests, or requests following higher ratings, may incur a fee — typically between 150 and 200 pounds, though this varies by authority. Some authorities have a waiting period of three months from the last inspection before they will conduct a reinspection, to ensure that improvements are sustained and not just temporary. In Wales, the reinspection process operates slightly differently under the mandatory display legislation, and you may be entitled to request a rescore visit within specific timeframes.