The Vale Convenience Store food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Lancaster City
The Vale Convenience Store 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 8 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: 21 Noel Road, Lancaster, LA1 2LS
How it compares in Lancaster City
That puts The Vale Convenience Store among the 865 places in Lancaster City holding top marks, 79% 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 | 865 | 79% | ← The Vale Convenience Store | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 173 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 44 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 64 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 Very good
- 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 Vale Convenience Store 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 Vale Convenience Store, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cakes by Charmaine Other catering premises | 368 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2024 |
| Asda Express Ryelands/Greggs/Subway Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 August 2025 |
| Cafe Irresistible Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Chadwick High School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Aldi Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2026 |
| Babar Elephant Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| Appledore Montessori Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Araya Thai Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2024 |
Questions about The Vale Convenience Store
What is The Vale Convenience Store's food hygiene rating?
The Vale Convenience Store has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Lancaster City Council on 8 August 2023.
Is The Vale Convenience Store 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 The Vale Convenience Store last inspected?
The Vale Convenience Store was last inspected on 8 August 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lancaster City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Vale Convenience Store?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Vale Convenience Store compare to other places in Lancaster City?
79% of the 1,101 rated food businesses in Lancaster City hold the top rating of 5, and The Vale Convenience Store is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Lancaster City Council inspects The Vale Convenience Store 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 Vale Convenience Store and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Lancaster City inspects and rates 1,165 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lancaster City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/foodratings
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 →