Smith & Clay food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Buckinghamshire
Smith & Clay 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 6 January 2025, 18 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 6 Market Hill, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 1JN
How it compares in Buckinghamshire
That puts Smith & Clay among the 3,235 places in Buckinghamshire holding top marks, 81% 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 | 3,235 | 81% | ← Smith & Clay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 527 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 171 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 41 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 606 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 Smith & Clay 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 Smith & Clay, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham News Takeaway/sandwich shop | 36 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2024 |
| Meadow Row Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2025 |
| Prego Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2025 |
| Smarts Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2025 |
| Gazzeria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2024 |
| Mey Bar & Grill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 65 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Sabits Off Licence Retailers - other | 66 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2012 |
| Cheng Du Takeaway/sandwich shop | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2025 |
Questions about Smith & Clay
What is Smith & Clay's food hygiene rating?
Smith & Clay has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Buckinghamshire Council on 6 January 2025.
Is Smith & Clay 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 Smith & Clay last inspected?
Smith & Clay was last inspected on 6 January 2025, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Buckinghamshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Smith & Clay?
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 Smith & Clay compare to other places in Buckinghamshire?
81% of the 4,006 rated food businesses in Buckinghamshire hold the top rating of 5, and Smith & Clay is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Buckinghamshire Council inspects Smith & Clay 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 Smith & Clay and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Smith & Clay is one of 106 rated food businesses in Buckingham. See every hygiene rating in Buckingham →
Buckinghamshire inspects and rates 4,612 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Buckinghamshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.buckinghamshire.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 →