The Margate Bookshop food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Thanet
The Margate Bookshop holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 28 May 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: 2 Market Place, Margate, Kent, CT9 1ER
How it compares in Thanet
That puts The Margate Bookshop 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 Margate Bookshop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Margate Bookshop 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 Margate Bookshop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Del Margs Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 11 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Charlie's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2026 |
| Bottega Caruso, The Crown Gallery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 69 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2025 |
| Alexandria Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 69 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2023 |
| Carolines Catering Other catering premises | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2025 |
| Angela's of Margate Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Bow's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2026 |
| Buoy and Oyster Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 October 2024 |
Questions about The Margate Bookshop
What is The Margate Bookshop's food hygiene rating?
The Margate Bookshop has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Thanet Council on 28 May 2021.
Is The Margate Bookshop 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Margate Bookshop last inspected?
The Margate Bookshop was last inspected on 28 May 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 Margate Bookshop?
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 Margate Bookshop compare to other places in Thanet?
95% of the 1,480 rated food businesses in Thanet hold the top rating of 5, and The Margate Bookshop is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Thanet Council inspects The Margate Bookshop 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 Margate Bookshop 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 Margate Bookshop 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 →