Hancocks food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Sevenoaks
Hancocks 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
This is a fresh result: Hancocks was inspected on 12 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
92% of rated food businesses in Sevenoaks score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Sevenoaks ratings →
Address: Knockholt Road, Halstead, Sevenoaks, TN14 7EU
How this rating has changed
Hancocks has improved: it was rated 4 before its inspection on 12 August 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 12 August 2026 | 4 5 | Improved |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Sevenoaks
That puts Hancocks among the 685 places in Sevenoaks holding top marks, 79% 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 | 685 | 79% | ← Hancocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 110 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 47 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 89 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 Very 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 Hancocks 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 Hancocks, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nourish Contract Catering Ltd @ Halstead Community Primary S School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 24 April 2025 |
| Halstead Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2023 |
| Aramark Ltd @ Arthurs Restaurant Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 19 August 2025 |
| The Harrow Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 April 2024 |
| The Three Horse Shoes Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 4 - Good | 2 December 2025 |
| Cottage Farm Quality Meats Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Novells Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2026 |
| Toby Carvery Badgers Mount Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
Questions about Hancocks
What is Hancocks's food hygiene rating?
Hancocks has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Sevenoaks Council on 12 August 2026.
Is Hancocks 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 Hancocks last inspected?
Hancocks was last inspected on 12 August 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sevenoaks Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Hancocks?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Hancocks compare to other places in Sevenoaks?
79% of the 862 rated food businesses in Sevenoaks hold the top rating of 5, and Hancocks is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Sevenoaks Council inspects Hancocks 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 Hancocks 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sevenoaks inspects and rates 951 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sevenoaks →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sevenoaks.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 →