Downham Post Office & Shop food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Lewisham
Downham Post Office & Shop 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 16 March 2019, more than 7 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: Post Office, Downham Post Office, 488 Bromley Road, BR1 4PW
How it compares in Lewisham
In Lewisham, 62% of rated places manage a 5, so Downham Post Office & Shop sits behind roughly 1,249 nearby businesses. 23% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,249 | 62% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 457 | 23% | ← Downham Post Office & Shop | |
| 3 out of 5 | 236 | 12% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 35 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 28 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 449 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 Very 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 Downham Post Office & Shop 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 Downham Post Office & Shop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Hours Express Limited Takeaway/sandwich shop | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| Beckenham Hill Nursery Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2025 |
| Atalian Servest Food Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2023 |
| Base Zero Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2026 |
| Banana Moon Day Nursery Bromley Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
Questions about Downham Post Office & Shop
What is Downham Post Office & Shop's food hygiene rating?
Downham Post Office & Shop has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Lewisham Council on 16 March 2019.
Is Downham Post Office & Shop 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 Downham Post Office & Shop last inspected?
Downham Post Office & Shop was last inspected on 16 March 2019, more than 7 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lewisham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Downham Post Office & Shop?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Downham Post Office & Shop compare to other places in Lewisham?
62% of the 2,009 rated food businesses in Lewisham hold the top rating of 5, while Downham Post Office & Shop holds a 4. 457 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Lewisham Council inspects Downham Post Office & Shop 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 Downham Post Office & Shop 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
Lewisham inspects and rates 2,458 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lewisham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/business/food-safety/Pages/default.aspx
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 →