The Grain Grocer food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Thanet
The Grain Grocer 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 April 2021, more than 5 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: 216 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2QU
How it compares in Thanet
That puts The Grain Grocer among the 1,413 places in Thanet holding top marks, 95% 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 | 1,413 | 95% | ← The Grain Grocer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 51 | 3% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 75 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 The Grain Grocer 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 Grain Grocer, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottega Bodega, Bar Nicoletta Pub/bar/nightclub | 202 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2024 |
| Brightstart Nursery Caring Premises | 202 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 November 2024 |
| Batchelors Patisserie Retailers - other | 213 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2026 |
| ARK Cliftonville's Cultural Space Other catering premises | 219 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2025 |
| 101 Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 239 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Aquarius Lodge Caring Premises | 295 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
| Approach Road Mini Mart Retailers - other | 359 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Ashcroft House Caring Premises | 393 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2025 |
Questions about The Grain Grocer
What is The Grain Grocer's food hygiene rating?
The Grain Grocer has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Thanet Council on 6 April 2021.
Is The Grain Grocer 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 Grain Grocer last inspected?
The Grain Grocer was last inspected on 6 April 2021, more than 5 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Thanet Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Grain Grocer?
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 The Grain Grocer compare to other places in Thanet?
95% of the 1,480 rated food businesses in Thanet hold the top rating of 5, and The Grain Grocer is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Thanet Council inspects The Grain Grocer 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 Grain Grocer 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 Grain Grocer is one of 446 rated food businesses in Margate. See every hygiene rating in Margate →
Thanet inspects and rates 1,555 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Thanet →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.thanet.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 →