Monopol food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · West Northamptonshire
Monopol holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the shop requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 13 August 2025, 11 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 42 Barrack Road, Northampton, Nn1 3rj, NN1 3RJ
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
A 0 is rare: only 9 of 3,285 rated places in West Northamptonshire score this low, about one in 365. 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 | 2,565 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 378 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 43 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% | ← Monopol |
A further 772 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Major improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Urgent 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 Monopol the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and 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 Monopol, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Pol Delicatessen Retailers - other | 41 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2024 |
| Aspens Services Ltd School/college/university | 94 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| Aspen Services School/college/university | 286 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 May 2023 |
| Balti King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| ABC123 Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2025 |
| ALDI Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2024 |
| Bosworth Independent College School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| Ambe Supermarket Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
Questions about Monopol
What is Monopol's food hygiene rating?
Monopol has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 13 August 2025.
Is Monopol safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The shop may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was Monopol last inspected?
Monopol was last inspected on 13 August 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Monopol?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "urgent improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Monopol compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, while Monopol holds a 0. 9 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects Monopol 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 Monopol 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 0 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 West Northamptonshire, 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: West Northamptonshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Monopol is one of 1,617 rated food businesses in Northampton. See every hygiene rating in Northampton →
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →