W H Smith food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Plymouth City
W H 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 5 September 2024, 22 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: Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH
How it compares in Plymouth City
That puts W H Smith among the 1,270 places in Plymouth City holding top marks, 78% 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 | 1,270 | 78% | ← W H Smith | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 198 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 97 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 34 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | 1% |
A further 153 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 W H 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 W H Smith, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe JBs Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 289 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 350 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2024 |
| BodyWorld Plymouth Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2025 |
| Adrenalin Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Compass at The Grand Stand Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2024 |
| Abbeyfield Tamar House Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
| CATERed at St Matthews C of E Primary Academy School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2019 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2024 |
Questions about W H Smith
What is W H Smith's food hygiene rating?
W H Smith has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Plymouth City Council on 5 September 2024.
Is W H 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 W H Smith last inspected?
W H Smith was last inspected on 5 September 2024, 22 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Plymouth City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at W H 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 W H Smith compare to other places in Plymouth City?
78% of the 1,630 rated food businesses in Plymouth City hold the top rating of 5, and W H Smith is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Plymouth City Council inspects W H 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 W H 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
Plymouth City inspects and rates 1,783 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Plymouth City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.plymouth.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 →