The Shakespeare food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Canterbury City
The Shakespeare holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 17 August 2023, more than 2 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: 5 Butchery Lane, Canterbury, CT1 2JR
How it compares in Canterbury City
In Canterbury City, 78% of rated places manage a 5, so The Shakespeare sits behind roughly 1,161 nearby businesses. 12% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,161 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 185 | 12% | ← The Shakespeare | |
| 3 out of 5 | 120 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 166 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety 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 Shakespeare 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 Shakespeare, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amorino Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 36 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| Buenos Aires Nights Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2025 |
| Canterbury Cathedral Shop Retailers - other | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2023 |
| Cathedral Gate Hotel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2024 |
| Canterbury Tails Cat Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 63 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Bird & Blend Tea Co Takeaway/sandwich shop | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 May 2024 |
| Bubbleology Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 94 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 September 2023 |
| Canterbury Wholefoods Retailers - other | 116 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 January 2026 |
Questions about The Shakespeare
What is The Shakespeare's food hygiene rating?
The Shakespeare has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Canterbury City Council on 17 August 2023.
Is The Shakespeare safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Shakespeare last inspected?
The Shakespeare was last inspected on 17 August 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Canterbury City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Shakespeare?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Shakespeare compare to other places in Canterbury City?
78% of the 1,483 rated food businesses in Canterbury City hold the top rating of 5, while The Shakespeare holds a 4. 185 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Canterbury City Council inspects The Shakespeare 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 Shakespeare and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Canterbury City inspects and rates 1,649 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Canterbury City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.canterbury.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 →