Northdown Service Station food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Ashford
Northdown Service Station 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 19 May 2021, more than 5 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: Northdown Service Station Maidstone Road, Charing, TN27 0JS
How it compares in Ashford
That puts Northdown Service Station among the 1,039 places in Ashford holding top marks, 89% 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 | 1,039 | 89% | ← Northdown Service Station | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 90 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 106 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 Very 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 Northdown Service Station 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 Northdown Service Station, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasmine House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 185 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2025 |
| Wady & Brett Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 October 2016 |
| G, M & M Johns Family Butchers Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| The Charing Bar Company Limited Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2024 |
| The Charing Stores Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 16 February 2026 |
| Care 4 Kids Nursery and Afterschool School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2014 |
| The Pavilion Pantry Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2024 |
| Songbird Hearing Limited Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
Questions about Northdown Service Station
What is Northdown Service Station's food hygiene rating?
Northdown Service Station has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ashford Council on 19 May 2021.
Is Northdown Service Station 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 Northdown Service Station last inspected?
Northdown Service Station was last inspected on 19 May 2021, more than 5 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Ashford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Northdown Service Station?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Northdown Service Station compare to other places in Ashford?
89% of the 1,162 rated food businesses in Ashford hold the top rating of 5, and Northdown Service Station is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ashford Council inspects Northdown Service Station 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 Northdown Service Station and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Northdown Service Station is one of 20 rated food businesses in Charing. See every hygiene rating in Charing →
Ashford inspects and rates 1,268 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Ashford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.ashford.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 →