East Sussex · TR19 inspections and grease testing
TR19 inspections and grease testing in Lewes, East Sussex
TR19 inspection for Lewes and the surrounding area: diagnosis first, then a fixed quote, the work and a report with photos. Call for a fixed quote.
- Kitchen extract systems with no recent grease readings
- Cleaning intervals that may not suit the kitchen
- Checking the result of a recent clean
How we handle TR19 inspection in Lewes
Grease thickness testing tells you how much grease is sitting in the canopy, ducts and fan. We use the Wet Film Thickness Test (WFTT) or the Deposit Thickness Test (DTT), taking readings at set points. The results show whether the system needs cleaning and how soon. If you are dealing with ductwork where grease may be over the TR19 limits and parts of the system left out of past cleans, we can help, from deposit thickness tests, wet film thickness tests and insurer audits onwards.
Kitchens in towns like Lewes are often in older buildings that were never designed for them, so duct runs can be awkward, with bends, long horizontal sections and too few access panels. Sections we can’t reach are listed on the report, and access panels can be added.
The sign-off is always in writing: a written report, dated and illustrated with photos, and for TR19® Grease cleans, a certificate issued through the BESCA VHE portal. It shows what was done and what, if anything, couldn’t be reached.
- Where
- Lewes (BN7, BN8, BN6, RH15)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Records
- Certificate and photo report
- Quote
- A fixed quote up front
- When we work
- After hours by arrangement; emergencies any time
- Telephone
- 0345 646 2711
- Page updated
- 30 October 2026
What affects the cost of TR19 inspection
We quote each job individually. This is what makes a difference:
- What state the system is in
- One-off work versus a regular cycle
- How easy every part is to reach
- Whether several sites go on one quote
The price reflects the work, not guesswork. That’s why every job is surveyed first, and why the quote is fixed before any work starts.
What to send for a quote
To help us quote quickly, send us:
- Any previous report or certificate
- The site address and the type of premises
- The roof, plant room or outside wall the system runs to
- Photos showing the whole system and its surroundings
To get a fixed quote, phone us on 0345 646 2711, or send details by email and tell us the type of site, your opening hours and roughly what the system looks like. Photos and the last report, if you have one, make the quote quicker. We usually come back within one working day.
Towns and villages near Lewes
Also in Lewes
TR19 inspection in Lewes: the local picture
Food Standards Agency records list about 50 restaurants, cafés and canteens and about 13 takeaways in and around Lewes, up to about a mile and a half out. A WFTT or DTT reading tells each of those kitchens whether its grease is staying under the 200-micron mean. Kitchens in Lewes get their food hygiene inspections from Lewes council. The cleanliness of the kitchen and its equipment, extraction included, is part of what they check. Our report lists what was cleaned and when, which is useful to have ready. Lewes is covered by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Grease in a kitchen extract is a recognised fire risk, and the fire authority enforces the law on managing it in most commercial premises.
Healthcare kitchens, like those at hospitals such as Lewes Victoria Hospital (about 0.5 miles west), often cook for long hours, which puts them in BESA’s heavier-use bands. Bursars and site managers at schools such as Lewes Old Grammar School tend to book extract cleaning for when the kitchen is empty.
Lewes is about 7 miles north-east of Brighton, in East Sussex. Lewes gets the same approach as every site we work on: a survey first, a fixed quote, work timed around your hours and a report with photos. We cover 289 places across East Sussex, large and small. We also work in Brighton, about 7 miles from Lewes.
Postcode districts we cover here for TR19 inspection: BN7, BN8, BN6 and RH15. We cover sites on Market Lane, Market Street and High Street and the roads around them. With the A26 and A275 close by, Lewes is simple for us to get to for TR19 inspection. Neighbouring places we cover for TR19 inspection include South Malling (1 mile north-east), Southover (1 mile south-east), Cliffe (1 mile east), Offham (1 mile north-west) and Hamsey (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north-east), Uckfield (8 miles north-east) and Newhaven (6 miles south). Being one of East Sussex’s larger places, Lewes has a wide mix of commercial premises, all within our area for TR19 inspection.
Local landmarks in Lewes
In Lewes, that means kitchens and buildings near Priory School, St Pancras Catholic Primary School and Railway Land. The nearest railway station is Lewes station, roughly 0.6 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Lewes Victoria Hospital (0.5 miles west) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Offham Hill and Malling Down.
What TR19 inspection cannot fix
TR19 inspection can’t fix everything, and we will tell you before we start. It will not put right:
- The responsible person’s own fire risk assessment
- Removing the grease, which is a separate clean
- Fan breakdowns, which need a repair visit
If you are not sure, just call us on 0345 646 2711 or drop us a line and we’ll give you a straight answer.
What the work covers
- Insurer audits
- Post-clean checks
- Access surveys
- Wet film thickness tests
- Pre-clean surveys
- Deposit thickness tests
Signs you need TR19 inspection in Lewes
Grease in a duct is flammable fuel. Flames from the range can be pulled into the canopy and travel through the ducts to other parts of the building. Knowing how much there is lets you act before it becomes a hazard.
Most sites get in touch when they notice one of these:
- Sections of duct that can’t be reached
- Insurance renewals needing proof of TR19 cleaning
- Post-clean verification after another contractor’s clean
- Missing TR19 certificates or history
If you cook for passing trade around Lewes station, the extract can be cleaned between your last and first customer.
What your quote should include
- Proof of accreditation you can verify
- If they look at the system before pricing
- Whether they’re fully insured
- Whether they recommend a next date
The process
Your staff do not need to do much on the day. A contact on site lets us in at the agreed time and points us to the system, and the rest is down to us. Afterwards, the area is left tidy and the written report follows. A closed day, an evening or an early start: whichever suits your site in Lewes, we’ll book around it.
- We go through any past certificates and reports.
- We follow the extract from canopy to discharge.
- We note where access panels are and where more are needed.
- We measure the grease and photograph each point.
- We report back with readings and a fixed quote.
Preparing for the visit
- Have your last certificate or report to hand
- Tell us about site rules, permits or sign-in
- Tell us about access, such as roof hatches, plant rooms, ceilings or locked areas
Ask for a quote
Some systems can be priced from photos; others need a survey. Larger sites, and anything hidden behind walls, ceilings or floors, are normally surveyed first. Either way, the quote is fixed before any work is booked.
Related advice
Questions from Lewes
Which environmental health team covers Lewes?
In Lewes, it’s Lewes council that carries out food hygiene inspections. How often a business is inspected depends on the risk rating the council gives it, so it’s worth staying ready all year.
Who enforces fire safety at workplaces in Lewes?
Lewes is in the area of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. TR19® is not law, but it’s the benchmark many fire officers and insurers look to when they ask how often the extract is cleaned.
What is grease thickness testing?
Readings are taken using the Wet Film Thickness Test or the Deposit Thickness Test, then compare them with the TR19® Grease figures.
What do you need from me for a quote?
A short description and a few pictures, with the address and opening hours. We will ask for anything else we need.
Do you cover Lewes?
Yes. Our area takes in London and the counties of South East England, Lewes included.
Do you look at the system first?
Yes, every time. Diagnosis comes before treatment: the survey tells us what the system needs and how to reach it and the fixed quote is built on it.
Can the work be done while we are closed?
Yes, and it’s often the best time. The visit is timed for when the area is not in use, such as late evening, overnight or a weekend.
How far ahead should we book?
Earlier is better, particularly for night and weekend visits. We normally quote within one working day, and emergencies are covered by our 24/7 line.
How the job changes from site to site
Extract fan and discharge
A greasy fan works harder and wears faster. Readings show if it needs attention before the next clean.
Horizontal duct runs
Bends and long runs can hold heavy deposits, well away from where anyone looks.
Keeping the system healthy
Once we’ve finished, these simple steps help:
- Tell us if menus or opening hours change
- Keep access panels clear and unpainted
- Store grease readings where your insurer can see them
- Report grease dripping from the canopy
After post-clean verification, file the results with the cleaning certificate. The pair gives a clear record of the clean and the check.
Keep all TR19 records together so the history is easy to show.
Landlords, agents and facilities managers
Facilities teams in offices, schools and healthcare sites book us too in Lewes and across East Sussex. Work can be phased by floor, building or site to keep disruption down.
We work for landlords, managing agents and facilities managers as well as the people running the site. Where a system serves more than one tenant, such as a shared riser, it helps to agree who arranges the work, and we can quote for the whole system.