Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

FHRS information for businesses

Safeguards for businesses 

If you're unhappy with your food hygiene rating, there are several steps you can take. These safeguards ensure the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is fair and transparent.

1. Appeal a rating

Before appealing, contact the food safety officer who carried out your inspection to understand why the rating was given. If you still believe the rating is unfair, you can appeal in writing within 21 days of being notified.

Appeals must be made by email or in writing. There is a standard form available to download 

  • Download the Appeal Form (England)

  • Send completed forms to:

    Commercial Services Team, Public Protection
    Hartlepool Borough Council
    Civic Centre
    Victoria Road
    Hartlepool
    TS24 8AY

Or email: HBC.CommercialServicesTeam@hartlepool.gov.uk

Note: Do not send any payment with your appeal form.

For more information, visit the Food Standards Agency website

2. Right to reply

As the food business operator, you can submit a comment at any time before your next inspection. This comment - known as your right to reply will appear alongside your food hygiene rating on the public website.

You can explain to customers what actions you’ve taken to improve hygiene or if there were unusual circumstances during the inspection.

Offensive or irrelevant comments may be edited or removed. 

3. Request a re-visit inspection

If you’ve made improvements, you can request a re-visit before your next scheduled inspection.

You have two options:

  • option A: Wait 3 months for a free re-visit (only once)
  • option B: Pay £155 for an earlier re-visit (no limit on requests)

Payment methods for Option B:

  • By phone: Call (01429) 523354 or (01429) 266522
  • In person: Pay at the Civic Centre payments desk (quote your business name and budget code 36741 6290)
  • By post: Send your form and cheque to the address above. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Hartlepool Borough Council’

Note: Re-visits are unannounced. It is important to fully understand your inspection report and take appropriate action before requesting another inspection. Your rating may go up or down based on the inspection.

4. Request early publication

You can ask us to publish your rating before the end of the appeal period.

Include:

  • your name and contact details
  • the business name and address
  • the inspection date and rating

Please use the following form:Form to request early publication of rating (England) and send your request in writing or or email using the contact information above. 

5. Correcting business details

If your business name, address or rating details are incorrect on the food hygiene ratings website, contact the inspecting officer or email: HBC.CommercialServicesTeam@hartlepool.gov.uk to request changes.