Log inStart Free Trial
Understanding Your Rating

Food Hygiene Rating Stickers: Display Rules & Requirements

Food Hygiene Rating Stickers: When Display Is Mandatory, Where to Put Them & What the Law Says

After every food hygiene inspection, your business receives a rating sticker showing your score from 0 to 5. Whether you are required to display it depends on where your business is located. In Wales, display is a legal requirement. In England and Northern Ireland, display is currently voluntary but strongly encouraged. This guide covers the display rules, where to place the sticker, what to do if you have lost your sticker, and the legal position on mandatory display across the UK.

Key takeaways

In Wales, displaying your food hygiene rating sticker is a legal requirement with penalties of up to 200 pounds for non-compliance.
In England and Northern Ireland, display is currently voluntary but strongly recommended.
The sticker must be the official version from your local authority, displayed prominently near customer entrances.
Your rating is publicly available on the FSA website and delivery platforms regardless of whether you display a sticker.
Not displaying a sticker does not hide your rating. It simply prompts customers to check online.

Where Display Is Mandatory vs Voluntary

In Wales, the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 makes it a legal requirement for food businesses to display their food hygiene rating sticker in a conspicuous place at or near each customer entrance. Failure to display the sticker is a criminal offence that can result in a fixed penalty notice of up to 200 pounds. The sticker must be the official one issued by the local authority, not a printed copy or a modified version. In England and Northern Ireland, display is voluntary under the current FHRS framework. The FSA has repeatedly recommended mandatory display and the UK Government has consulted on making it compulsory in England, but as of 2026 it remains voluntary. However, even in England and Northern Ireland, there are strong business reasons to display a good rating. Customers look for the sticker when choosing where to eat, and the absence of a sticker often prompts them to check online where they may find a less favourable rating. Scotland uses a different system (FHIS) which does not use the 0-5 sticker format.

Where and How to Display Your Sticker

The FHRS Brand Standard specifies that stickers should be displayed in a prominent position where customers can see them before entering or when making a purchasing decision. For dine-in restaurants and cafes, this means at or near the main entrance, on the front door, or in the window beside the door. For takeaways and delivery-only businesses, display it near the counter or ordering point. Mobile food units, market stalls, and pop-up businesses should display the sticker where customers can see it when approaching. The sticker must be the official version provided by your local authority. You must not alter, cover, or deface the sticker. If your sticker is damaged or lost, contact your local authority for a replacement. Businesses in Wales are also required to include their rating on any website, mobile app, or other online platform where they sell food to consumers, and must do so using the official FHRS format.

Online Display and Delivery Platforms

Beyond the physical sticker, your food hygiene rating appears on the FSA website (food.gov.uk/ratings) and is increasingly displayed by third-party platforms. Delivery services such as Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats pull rating data from the FSA API and display it alongside your business listing. Google Maps and Google Business profiles sometimes show the rating as well. You have no control over these online displays because the data is public. This means a low rating is visible to every potential customer searching online, regardless of whether you display a physical sticker. Some businesses with low ratings choose not to display their sticker in the window, but this simply causes customers to check online where the information is equally available along with the implication that the business was trying to hide the score. For businesses with a rating of 4 or 5, prominent display is a competitive advantage. It signals transparency and builds trust before the customer even walks in.
Understanding Your Rating

Check your inspection readiness

Use our free FHRS Predictor to estimate your food hygiene rating, or take the EHO Readiness Quiz to identify gaps before your next inspection.

Start free trialSee compliance features
Try the free FHRS Predictor

What to do next

Display your sticker prominently if you have a rating of 4 or 5

Use your good rating as a marketing asset. Place it at every entrance and consider adding it to your website and social media. It builds customer trust before they even read the menu.

Contact your local authority for a replacement if your sticker is damaged or missing

Do not create your own version of the sticker. The FHRS Brand Standard requires the official format. Your local authority will provide a replacement free of charge.

Check what your rating looks like on delivery platforms and Google

Search for your business on the FSA website, Google Maps, and any delivery platforms you use. Ensure the displayed rating is current and the business details are correct.

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake
Removing the sticker after receiving a low rating
Instead
In Wales, this is a criminal offence. In England and Northern Ireland, removing the sticker does not hide the rating because it remains publicly available online. Focus on improving your rating and requesting a rescore instead.
Mistake
Displaying a sticker from a previous higher-rated inspection
Instead
You must display the sticker from your most recent inspection, even if your rating has dropped. Displaying an outdated higher rating is considered misleading and can result in enforcement action in Wales.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to display my food hygiene rating sticker?

In Wales, yes, it is a legal requirement under the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013. In England and Northern Ireland, display is currently voluntary. Scotland uses a different system. Even where display is voluntary, not showing a good rating is a missed opportunity, and hiding a bad rating is counterproductive since the information is publicly available online.

What happens if I do not display my sticker in Wales?

In Wales, failure to display your food hygiene rating sticker is a criminal offence. The local authority can issue a fixed penalty notice of up to 200 pounds. Repeated non-compliance can result in prosecution.

Can I display my rating on my website?

Yes, and in Wales, food businesses that sell food online are required to display their rating on their website. In England and Northern Ireland, online display is encouraged but not yet mandatory. The FSA provides official digital assets that businesses can use on their websites.

Related articles

Understanding Your Rating

How Food Hygiene Ratings Work: The Scoring System Explained

Understanding Your Rating

How to Check Food Hygiene Ratings Online: The FSA Database

Improving Your Rating

Right to Reply: Responding to Your Food Hygiene Rating

Improving Your Rating

Requesting a Rescore Visit: When, How & What to Expect

Keep exploring

Related resources

How-To Guides

How to Improve Your Food Hygiene Rating

Glossary

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS)

Expert Answers

Can You Appeal a Food Hygiene Rating?

UK Regulations

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS)

Free Tools

FHRS Rating Predictor

Need expert help with your HACCP system?

Our hospitality consultants can review your HACCP plan, identify gaps, and help you build a system that satisfies EHO inspectors.

Talk to a consultant

Manage Food Hygiene Ratings digitally

Paddl helps UK hospitality businesses automate food hygiene ratings compliance. AI-generated plans, digital records, and inspection-ready documentation.

Start free trialSee Food Hygiene Ratings features
Food Hygiene Rating Stickers: Display Rules & Requirements | Food Hygiene Ratings | Paddl | Paddl