Larkhill General Store food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Dudley
Larkhill General Store 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
This is a fresh result: Larkhill General Store was inspected on 23 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 4% of rated food businesses in Dudley score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Dudley ratings →
Address: 73A Larkhill Road, Norton, Stourbridge, DY8 3LN
How this rating has changed
Larkhill General Store has gone backwards: it held a 3 before its inspection on 23 July 2026, and now holds a 2. A rating of 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 23 July 2026 | 3 2 | Worse |
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 Dudley
A 2 is rare: only 40 of 2,156 rated places in Dudley score this low, about one in 54. By contrast 62% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,337 | 62% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 486 | 23% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 246 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 40 | 2% | ← Larkhill General Store | |
| 1 out of 5 | 45 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 527 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 Larkhill General Store 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 Larkhill General Store, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIP C/O The Ridge Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| Gigmill Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| Forget-Me-Not House B & B Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2014 |
| East One Curry House Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2025 |
| Harris Butchers Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2025 |
| Discover U Tea Rooms at The Old Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2024 |
| Church View Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2024 |
| Fletcher Drinks Cabinet Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2019 |
Questions about Larkhill General Store
What is Larkhill General Store's food hygiene rating?
Larkhill General Store has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Dudley Council on 23 July 2026.
Is Larkhill General Store 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 Larkhill General Store last inspected?
Larkhill General Store was last inspected on 23 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dudley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Larkhill General Store?
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 Larkhill General Store compare to other places in Dudley?
62% of the 2,156 rated food businesses in Dudley hold the top rating of 5, while Larkhill General Store holds a 2. 40 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Dudley Council inspects Larkhill General 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 Larkhill General Store 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 Dudley, 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: Dudley
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Larkhill General Store is one of 461 rated food businesses in Stourbridge. See every hygiene rating in Stourbridge →
Dudley inspects and rates 2,683 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dudley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dudley.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 →