The Fat Pizza food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Maidstone
The Fat Pizza holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the takeaway and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Fat Pizza was inspected on 20 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 71 Union Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1ED
How it compares in Maidstone
A 1 is rare: only 12 of 1,387 rated places in Maidstone score this low, about one in 116. By contrast 82% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,136 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 165 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 61 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ← The Fat Pizza | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 65 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 The Fat Pizza 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 The Fat Pizza, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Amin Tandoori Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 9 March 2026 |
| Bonnies Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 23 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
| Cafe Rose Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 131 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2025 |
| Admiral Pub/bar/nightclub | 175 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Burger King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 August 2025 |
| Bliss Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 307 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2024 |
| Akins Food Retailers - other | 327 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Ashes Sports Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 330 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2023 |
Questions about The Fat Pizza
What is The Fat Pizza's food hygiene rating?
The Fat Pizza has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Maidstone Council on 20 May 2026.
Is The Fat Pizza safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway 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 The Fat Pizza last inspected?
The Fat Pizza was last inspected on 20 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maidstone Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Fat Pizza?
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 The Fat Pizza compare to other places in Maidstone?
82% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, while The Fat Pizza holds a 1. 12 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects The Fat Pizza 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 Fat Pizza 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 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 Maidstone, 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: Maidstone
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Maidstone inspects and rates 1,452 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Maidstone →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.maidstone.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 →