M Smith Butchers food hygiene rating
Manufacturers/packers · Dover
M Smith Butchers holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the food producer met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 March 2025, 16 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: 29 London Road, Dover, CT17 0SS
How it compares in Dover
That puts M Smith Butchers among the 892 places in Dover holding top marks, 82% 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 | 892 | 82% | ← M Smith Butchers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 113 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 115 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 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 Smith Butchers 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 Smith Butchers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly Friday Footprints @ The Beacon Other catering premises | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2025 |
| Admiral Harvey Pub/bar/nightclub | 115 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2023 |
| Bridge Street News Retailers - other | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Brenda's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2025 |
| Good Choice Takeaway/sandwich shop | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 July 2024 |
| Farmfoods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 219 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2025 |
| Buckland Postoffice And Stores Retailers - other | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2022 |
| Asda Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 257 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2026 |
Questions about M Smith Butchers
What is M Smith Butchers's food hygiene rating?
M Smith Butchers has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dover Council on 7 March 2025.
Is M Smith Butchers 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 food producer to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was M Smith Butchers last inspected?
M Smith Butchers was last inspected on 7 March 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dover Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at M Smith Butchers?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does M Smith Butchers compare to other places in Dover?
82% of the 1,086 rated food businesses in Dover hold the top rating of 5, and M Smith Butchers is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dover Council inspects M Smith 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 M Smith Butchers and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Dover inspects and rates 1,201 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dover →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dover.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 →