AJ African and Caribbean shop food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Stoke-On-Trent
AJ African and Caribbean shop holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 28 October 2024, 20 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: 67 The Strand, Longton, ST3 2NS
How it compares in Stoke-On-Trent
A 1 is rare: only 27 of 1,894 rated places in Stoke-On-Trent score this low, about one in 70. By contrast 78% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,486 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 243 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 112 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 27 | 1% | ← AJ African and Caribbean shop | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 392 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 Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 AJ African and Caribbean shop the inspector recorded concerns over confidence in management. 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 AJ African and Caribbean shop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britannia Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Ali's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 63 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2025 |
| Baguettes and Pies Takeaway/sandwich shop | 121 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2025 |
| Barnett's Retailers - other | 161 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2025 |
| 1863 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 161 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| ADS Truck Parking Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 352 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2025 |
| Anchor Road Convenience Store Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 April 2025 |
| Anchor Day Care Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
Questions about AJ African and Caribbean shop
What is AJ African and Caribbean shop's food hygiene rating?
AJ African and Caribbean shop has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Stoke-On-Trent Council on 28 October 2024.
Is AJ African and Caribbean shop safe to eat at?
A 1 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 AJ African and Caribbean shop last inspected?
AJ African and Caribbean shop was last inspected on 28 October 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stoke-On-Trent Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at AJ African and Caribbean shop?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does AJ African and Caribbean shop compare to other places in Stoke-On-Trent?
78% of the 1,894 rated food businesses in Stoke-On-Trent hold the top rating of 5, while AJ African and Caribbean shop holds a 1. 27 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Stoke-On-Trent Council inspects AJ African and Caribbean 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 AJ African and Caribbean 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 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 Stoke-On-Trent, 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: Stoke-On-Trent
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
AJ African and Caribbean shop is one of 147 rated food businesses in Longton. See every hygiene rating in Longton →
Stoke-On-Trent inspects and rates 2,286 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stoke-On-Trent →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stoke.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 →