Smithpool News food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Stoke-On-Trent
Smithpool News holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the shop that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 5 November 2024, 20 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: 19 Smithpool Road, Fenton, ST4 4NJ
How it compares in Stoke-On-Trent
A 2 is rare: only 24 of 1,894 rated places in Stoke-On-Trent score this low, about one in 79. By contrast 78% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,486 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 243 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 112 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ← Smithpool News | |
| 1 out of 5 | 27 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 392 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Smithpool News the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Smithpool News, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHK Christchurch Street Store Retailers - other | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2026 |
| Allan Jones Butchers Retailers - other | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Alice Charity Retailers - other | 381 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2026 |
| Bench & Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 397 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2024 |
| Albert House Nursery Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2024 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2025 |
| Barge Inn Booze Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2019 |
| Angel Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2025 |
Questions about Smithpool News
What is Smithpool News's food hygiene rating?
Smithpool News has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Stoke-On-Trent Council on 5 November 2024.
Is Smithpool News safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Smithpool News last inspected?
Smithpool News was last inspected on 5 November 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stoke-On-Trent Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Smithpool News?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Smithpool News compare to other places in Stoke-On-Trent?
78% of the 1,894 rated food businesses in Stoke-On-Trent hold the top rating of 5, while Smithpool News holds a 2. 24 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Stoke-On-Trent Council inspects Smithpool News 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 Smithpool News 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 2 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 Stoke-On-Trent, 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: Stoke-On-Trent
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Smithpool News is one of 109 rated food businesses in Fenton. See every hygiene rating in Fenton →
Stoke-On-Trent inspects and rates 2,286 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stoke-On-Trent →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stoke.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 →