Austin's News 4 U food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Swale
Austin's News 4 U holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 16 May 2025, 13 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: 176 - 178 Invicta Road, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 2AG
How it compares in Swale
In Swale, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so Austin's News 4 U sits behind roughly 989 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 989 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 134 | 11% | ← Austin's News 4 U | |
| 3 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 40 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Austin's News 4 U 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 Austin's News 4 U, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paydens Pharmacy Retailers - other | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Choi's Chinese Food Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 220 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
| Cottage Kitchen - Dinnerman Ltd Other catering premises | 242 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2025 |
| Age UK Sheppey Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 242 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2025 |
| OTAS Supported Living Limited Caring Premises | 247 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2022 |
| Kent Fresh Food Retailers - other | 330 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2024 |
| Beano Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 337 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2025 |
| New China Dragon Takeaway/sandwich shop | 337 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2024 |
Questions about Austin's News 4 U
What is Austin's News 4 U's food hygiene rating?
Austin's News 4 U has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Swale Council on 16 May 2025.
Is Austin's News 4 U safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Austin's News 4 U last inspected?
Austin's News 4 U was last inspected on 16 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swale Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Austin's News 4 U?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Austin's News 4 U compare to other places in Swale?
83% of the 1,186 rated food businesses in Swale hold the top rating of 5, while Austin's News 4 U holds a 4. 134 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Swale Council inspects Austin's News 4 U 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 Austin's News 4 U 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Austin's News 4 U is one of 112 rated food businesses in Sheerness. See every hygiene rating in Sheerness →
Swale inspects and rates 1,226 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swale →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.swale.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 →