Oxfam Bookshop food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Maidstone
Oxfam Bookshop holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 22 February 2018, more than 8 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 34 Gabriels Hill, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JJ
How it compares in Maidstone
That puts Oxfam Bookshop among the 1,136 places in Maidstone holding top marks, 82% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,136 | 82% | ← Oxfam Bookshop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 165 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 61 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 65 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Oxfam Bookshop none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Oxfam Bookshop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appamma Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Buzz Bingo - Maidstone Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 86 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| BBs Coffee And Muffins Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 99 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
| B & M Retail Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2026 |
| Card Factory Retailers - other | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2020 |
| Bliss Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2024 |
| Ballin Maidstone Pub/bar/nightclub | 143 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 November 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 186 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
Questions about Oxfam Bookshop
What is Oxfam Bookshop's food hygiene rating?
Oxfam Bookshop has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maidstone Council on 22 February 2018.
Is Oxfam Bookshop safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Oxfam Bookshop last inspected?
Oxfam Bookshop was last inspected on 22 February 2018, more than 8 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maidstone Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Oxfam Bookshop?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Oxfam Bookshop compare to other places in Maidstone?
82% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, and Oxfam Bookshop is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects Oxfam Bookshop and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Oxfam Bookshop and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Maidstone inspects and rates 1,452 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Maidstone →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.maidstone.gov.uk/
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →