WH Smith food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Stafford
WH Smith 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 25 September 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: County Hospital, Weston Road, Stafford, ST16 3SA
How it compares in Stafford
That puts WH Smith among the 778 places in Stafford holding top marks, 80% 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 | 778 | 80% | ← WH Smith | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 139 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 38 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 158 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 WH Smith 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 WH Smith, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannock Chase Trading Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| Age UK Stafford & District Other catering premises | 248 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| Everest Grocery Store Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 415 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2025 |
| Aladdins Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2026 |
| Co-operative Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2025 |
| Baxter Storey Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2025 |
| Bakery 79 - Lammascote Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
| Dolly Mixtures Nursery Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
Questions about WH Smith
What is WH Smith's food hygiene rating?
WH Smith has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Stafford Council on 25 September 2023.
Is WH Smith 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 WH Smith last inspected?
WH Smith was last inspected on 25 September 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stafford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at WH Smith?
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 WH Smith compare to other places in Stafford?
80% of the 976 rated food businesses in Stafford hold the top rating of 5, and WH Smith is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Stafford Council inspects WH Smith 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 WH Smith and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Stafford inspects and rates 1,134 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stafford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.staffordbc.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 →