5

John Thomson & Sons food hygiene rating

Retailers - other · Maldon

John Thomson & Sons 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 14 July 2023, 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: Gunhill Farm, Stivvys Road, Woodham Walter, CM9 6RR

How it compares in Maldon

That puts John Thomson & Sons among the 517 places in Maldon holding top marks, 88% 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.

Every rated food business in Maldon
5 out of 5 517 88% ← John Thomson & Sons
4 out of 5 40 7%
3 out of 5 27 5%
2 out of 5 1 <1%
1 out of 5 1 <1%
0 out of 5 2 <1%

A further 89 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 John Thomson & Sons 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 John Thomson & Sons, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Bunsay Downs Golf Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 17 June 2025
Olio On The Ridge Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 1.4 miles away 5 - Very good 24 July 2024
Danbury Mission Evangelical Church Other catering premises 1.6 miles away 5 - Very good 30 April 2026
Elm Green School School/college/university 1.6 miles away 5 - Very good 16 March 2026
Danbury Pre-School Caring Premises 1.6 miles away 5 - Very good 8 January 2026
St Johns Primary School School/college/university 1.6 miles away 5 - Very good 16 December 2024
Danbury Local Retailers - other 1.7 miles away 5 - Very good 19 February 2026
Cardfields Centre School/college/university 1.7 miles away 5 - Very good 22 September 2025

Questions about John Thomson & Sons

What is John Thomson & Sons's food hygiene rating?

John Thomson & Sons has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maldon Council on 14 July 2023.

Is John Thomson & Sons 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 John Thomson & Sons last inspected?

John Thomson & Sons was last inspected on 14 July 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maldon Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at John Thomson & Sons?

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 John Thomson & Sons compare to other places in Maldon?

88% of the 588 rated food businesses in Maldon hold the top rating of 5, and John Thomson & Sons is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Maldon Council inspects John Thomson & Sons 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 John Thomson & Sons and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

Maldon inspects and rates 677 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Maldon

The official record is held by the council: http://www.maldon.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 →