The Ship Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Canterbury City
The Ship Inn holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 27 January 2025, 17 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: 17 Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5HT
How it compares in Canterbury City
That puts The Ship Inn among the 1,161 places in Canterbury City holding top marks, 78% 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 | 1,161 | 78% | ← The Ship Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 185 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 120 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 166 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building 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 The Ship Inn 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 The Ship Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 8 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2026 |
| Cacao Atelier Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2026 |
| Herne Bay Sailing Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 159 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 June 2016 |
| Boyces Bakery Retailers - other | 185 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| Bouncing Barrel Pub/bar/nightclub | 241 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2024 |
| Bay Wines Retailers - other | 270 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 July 2024 |
| Extra Scoops Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 280 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 April 2025 |
| Britannia Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 305 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
Questions about The Ship Inn
What is The Ship Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Ship Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Canterbury City Council on 27 January 2025.
Is The Ship Inn 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Ship Inn last inspected?
The Ship Inn was last inspected on 27 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Canterbury City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ship Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Ship Inn compare to other places in Canterbury City?
78% of the 1,483 rated food businesses in Canterbury City hold the top rating of 5, and The Ship Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Canterbury City Council inspects The Ship Inn 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 The Ship Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Ship Inn is one of 277 rated food businesses in Herne Bay. See every hygiene rating in Herne Bay →
Canterbury City inspects and rates 1,649 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Canterbury City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.canterbury.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 →