The Handy Store food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Tonbridge and Malling
The Handy Store holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 29 April 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: 47 Bow Road, Wateringbury, Maidstone, ME18 5DN
How it compares in Tonbridge and Malling
That puts The Handy Store among the 771 places in Tonbridge and Malling holding top marks, 80% 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 | 771 | 80% | ← The Handy Store | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 123 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 56 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 84 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling 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 The Handy Store 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 Handy Store, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterlink Ltd At Wateringbury Primary School School/college/university | 197 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2024 |
| The Railway Pub/bar/nightclub | 428 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2024 |
| Teston And Wateringbury Pre-School Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2023 |
| The Teston Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2016 |
| Farmers Farm Shop Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2025 |
| Polar Bear Enterprise Ltd Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2026 |
Questions about The Handy Store
What is The Handy Store's food hygiene rating?
The Handy Store has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Tonbridge and Malling Council on 29 April 2024.
Is The Handy Store 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Handy Store last inspected?
The Handy Store was last inspected on 29 April 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tonbridge and Malling Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Handy Store?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 The Handy Store compare to other places in Tonbridge and Malling?
80% of the 968 rated food businesses in Tonbridge and Malling hold the top rating of 5, and The Handy Store is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Tonbridge and Malling Council inspects The Handy Store 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 Handy Store and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Tonbridge and Malling inspects and rates 1,052 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tonbridge and Malling →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tmbc.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 →