Benham's Off Licence food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Medway
Benham's Off Licence holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 25 August 2024, 22 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: 20 Station Road, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 7PH
How it compares in Medway
In Medway, 80% of rated places manage a 5, so Benham's Off Licence sits behind roughly 1,577 nearby businesses. 14% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,577 | 80% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 279 | 14% | ← Benham's Off Licence | |
| 3 out of 5 | 74 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 171 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 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 Benham's Off Licence 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 Benham's Off Licence, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collards Newsagents Retailers - other | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 April 2023 |
| Asham Indian Takeaway/sandwich shop | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2025 |
| Galata Mezze Restaurant Other catering premises | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2025 |
| B&M Retailers - other | 124 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2024 |
| Forrester's Pottery Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2026 |
| Bargain Warehouse Retailers - other | 169 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2025 |
| Cricketers Pub/bar/nightclub | 174 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2024 |
| Boyces Bakery Retailers - other | 176 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 October 2024 |
Questions about Benham's Off Licence
What is Benham's Off Licence's food hygiene rating?
Benham's Off Licence has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Medway Council on 25 August 2024.
Is Benham's Off Licence safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Benham's Off Licence last inspected?
Benham's Off Licence was last inspected on 25 August 2024, 22 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Medway Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Benham's Off Licence?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Benham's Off Licence compare to other places in Medway?
80% of the 1,964 rated food businesses in Medway hold the top rating of 5, while Benham's Off Licence holds a 4. 279 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Medway Council inspects Benham's Off Licence 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 Benham's Off Licence and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Benham's Off Licence is one of 509 rated food businesses in Gillingham. See every hygiene rating in Gillingham →
Medway inspects and rates 2,135 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Medway →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.medway.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 →