M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Rochdale
M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 27 June 2024, 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: Junction 18/19 (M62), Birch, OL10 2HQ
How it compares in Rochdale
That puts M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound among the 1,090 places in Rochdale holding top marks, 73% 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 | 1,090 | 73% | ← M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 216 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 79 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 51 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 54 | 4% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 402 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 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 M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound 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 M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP Forecourt - Birch East Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2026 |
| BP Forecourt - Birch Westbound Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2026 |
| Burger King - Birch Westbound Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2025 |
| Bay Horse Pub/bar/nightclub | 37 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| Billy's Indian Cuisine Ltd Other catering premises | 391 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2024 |
| Above and Beyond Mobile caterer | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2025 |
| Asda Express Heywood - Middleton Road PFS Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2024 |
| Brunch Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2025 |
Questions about M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound
What is M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound's food hygiene rating?
M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Rochdale Council on 27 June 2024.
Is M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound last inspected?
M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound was last inspected on 27 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Rochdale Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound compare to other places in Rochdale?
73% of the 1,494 rated food businesses in Rochdale hold the top rating of 5, and M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Rochdale Council inspects M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound 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 M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
M&S Simply Food - Birch Westbound is one of 239 rated food businesses in Heywood. See every hygiene rating in Heywood →
Rochdale inspects and rates 1,896 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Rochdale →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.rochdale.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 →