The Spice Merchant food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · South Kesteven
The Spice Merchant holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 29 April 2026, 2 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 77 Manor Way, Deeping St James, PE6 8PX
How it compares in South Kesteven
That puts The Spice Merchant among the 918 places in South Kesteven holding top marks, 84% 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 | 918 | 84% | ← The Spice Merchant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 109 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 48 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 81 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 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 The Spice Merchant 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 The Spice Merchant, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Pizzas Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Deeping Local Retailers - other | at this address | 4 - Good | 27 April 2026 |
| Beijing Palace Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 17 March 2025 |
| Deeping St James Community Primary School School/college/university | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2024 |
| The Waterton Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 282 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2025 |
| Riceland Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 282 yards away | 4 - Good | 12 June 2025 |
| Wildflowers Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 306 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2026 |
| The Lunch Box Other catering premises | 330 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2025 |
Questions about The Spice Merchant
What is The Spice Merchant's food hygiene rating?
The Spice Merchant has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Kesteven Council on 29 April 2026.
Is The Spice Merchant 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Spice Merchant last inspected?
The Spice Merchant was last inspected on 29 April 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Kesteven Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Spice Merchant?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 The Spice Merchant compare to other places in South Kesteven?
84% of the 1,098 rated food businesses in South Kesteven hold the top rating of 5, and The Spice Merchant is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Kesteven Council inspects The Spice Merchant 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 The Spice Merchant and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Spice Merchant is one of 33 rated food businesses in Deeping St James. See every hygiene rating in Deeping St James →
South Kesteven inspects and rates 1,179 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Kesteven →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southkesteven.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 →