Palops Star Shop food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Sandwell
Palops Star Shop holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the shop that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 23 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: 449 Bearwood Road, B66 4DH
How it compares in Sandwell
A 2 is rare: only 41 of 2,350 rated places in Sandwell score this low, about one in 57. By contrast 66% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,561 | 66% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 513 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 168 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 41 | 2% | ← Palops Star Shop | |
| 1 out of 5 | 56 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | <1% |
A further 326 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Palops Star Shop the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Palops Star Shop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 520 Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2024 |
| A La Mexicana Authentic Mexican Food Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 86 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 August 2025 |
| Argos Ltd Retailers - other | 174 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Limited Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 294 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2023 |
| "Playhouse Nursery" Private Day Nursery Caring Premises | 297 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| Admiral Retailers - other | 413 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 January 2025 |
| Baby Steps Day Care Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| Avery Fields Events Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2024 |
Questions about Palops Star Shop
What is Palops Star Shop's food hygiene rating?
Palops Star Shop has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Sandwell Council on 23 January 2025.
Is Palops Star Shop safe to eat at?
A 2 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 Palops Star Shop last inspected?
Palops Star Shop was last inspected on 23 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sandwell Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Palops Star Shop?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Palops Star Shop compare to other places in Sandwell?
66% of the 2,350 rated food businesses in Sandwell hold the top rating of 5, while Palops Star Shop holds a 2. 41 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Sandwell Council inspects Palops Star 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 Palops Star 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 2 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 Sandwell, 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: Sandwell
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Palops Star Shop is one of 468 rated food businesses in Smethwick. See every hygiene rating in Smethwick →
Sandwell inspects and rates 2,676 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sandwell →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/foodratings
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 →