What can the food business operator do if they think the rating they have been given is unfair?
The owner or manager of the business should talk to the environmental health officer that inspected the business about why the rating was given.
If the business owner or manager still thinks that the rating is unfair or wrong, they can appeal in writing. This means they can fill in a form that they can get from the Council and return it within 14 days (this includes weekends and public holidays) of being told what their rating is. Download Appeals Form
The owner or manager of the business also has a ‘right to reply’. This is different from an appeal. The owner or manager can fill in a form that they can get from the Council to tell them how the business has improved hygiene or to say if there were unusual circumstances at the time of the inspection. A business’s right to reply will be published online by the local authority with the business’s hygiene rating. Download Right to Reply form
Download further information regarding Appeals and Right to Reply