L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Eastleigh
L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the shop requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 22 January 2026, 5 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 1 Market Street Eastleigh SO50 5RJ, SO50 5RJ
How it compares in Eastleigh
A 0 is rare: only 1 of 848 rated places in Eastleigh score this low, about one in 848. By contrast 83% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 706 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 83 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 33 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ← L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers |
A further 116 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Major improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee #1 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 33 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2025 |
| Barga Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| Choices Catering Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 110 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2026 |
| Artisan Meze & Wine Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 168 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2025 |
| Cosy Cafe & Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2026 |
| Bob's Burgers Mobile caterer | 174 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Bubble Drop Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 197 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2024 |
Questions about L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers
What is L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers's food hygiene rating?
L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by Eastleigh Council on 22 January 2026.
Is L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The shop may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers last inspected?
L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers was last inspected on 22 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Eastleigh Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "major improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers compare to other places in Eastleigh?
83% of the 848 rated food businesses in Eastleigh hold the top rating of 5, while L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers holds a 0. 1 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Eastleigh Council inspects L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers 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 L J Smith Family Butchers Ltd T/A Smiths Butchers and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 0 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Eastleigh, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Eastleigh
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Eastleigh inspects and rates 964 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Eastleigh →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastleigh.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 →