Mr Simms food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · St Albans City
Mr Simms 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 26 February 2024, 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: Mr Sims, 52 The Maltings, St Albans, AL1 3HL
How it compares in St Albans City
That puts Mr Simms among the 818 places in St Albans City holding top marks, 77% 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.
| 5 out of 5 | 818 | 77% | ← Mr Simms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 157 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 63 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 105 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 Good
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 Mr Simms 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 Mr Simms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre 33 catering @ The Salvation Army Other catering premises | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2023 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Cafe W Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 June 2024 |
| Bill's Restaurants Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2025 |
| Brad and Dills Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2026 |
| Bellaccinos Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 117 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2026 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 140 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2023 |
| Books on the Hill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 154 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 December 2023 |
Questions about Mr Simms
What is Mr Simms's food hygiene rating?
Mr Simms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by St Albans City Council on 26 February 2024.
Is Mr Simms 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 Mr Simms last inspected?
Mr Simms was last inspected on 26 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by St Albans City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Mr Simms?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Mr Simms compare to other places in St Albans City?
77% of the 1,058 rated food businesses in St Albans City hold the top rating of 5, and Mr Simms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
St Albans City Council inspects Mr Simms 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 Mr Simms 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
St Albans City inspects and rates 1,163 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in St Albans City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/business/Health-and-safety/food-safety/foodHygieneRating.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 →