Roger Smith Distillery food hygiene rating
Manufacturers/packers · East Hampshire
Roger Smith Distillery holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the food producer and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 16 January 2026, 5 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: Priory Farm Priory Lane Selborne Alton GU34 3BU, GU34 3BU
How it compares in East Hampshire
A 1 is rare: only 9 of 958 rated places in East Hampshire score this low, about one in 106. By contrast 84% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 803 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 120 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ← Roger Smith Distillery | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 88 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major 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 Roger Smith Distillery the inspector recorded concerns over 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 Roger Smith Distillery, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soup & Cheese Lunch Other catering premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| The Selborne Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2025 |
| La Luna Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2024 |
| White's Café Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| Wilson Vale Catering Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2026 |
| Chocolate Frog Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
| The Hanger Free House Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2025 |
| Lavender Fields Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2024 |
Questions about Roger Smith Distillery
What is Roger Smith Distillery's food hygiene rating?
Roger Smith Distillery has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by East Hampshire Council on 16 January 2026.
Is Roger Smith Distillery safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The food producer 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 Roger Smith Distillery last inspected?
Roger Smith Distillery was last inspected on 16 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Hampshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Roger Smith Distillery?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Roger Smith Distillery compare to other places in East Hampshire?
84% of the 958 rated food businesses in East Hampshire hold the top rating of 5, while Roger Smith Distillery holds a 1. 9 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Hampshire Council inspects Roger Smith Distillery 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 Roger Smith Distillery and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Is this your business?
A rating of 1 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 East Hampshire, 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: East Hampshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
East Hampshire inspects and rates 1,046 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Hampshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.easthants.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 →