WHSmith food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Boston
WHSmith 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 1 September 2025, 10 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: Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, PE21 9QS
How it compares in Boston
That puts WHSmith among the 511 places in Boston holding top marks, 88% 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 | 511 | 88% | ← WHSmith | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 36 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 21 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 62 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 WHSmith 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 WHSmith, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston High School School/college/university | 308 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2024 |
| Butterfly Hospice Trust Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2024 |
| Burton House & Premier Inn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Church Lounge Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Central Market Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2025 |
| Baltic Food Park Boston Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 September 2019 |
| Boston Fruit LTD Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2025 |
| Ashridge Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2024 |
Questions about WHSmith
What is WHSmith's food hygiene rating?
WHSmith has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Boston Council on 1 September 2025.
Is WHSmith 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 WHSmith last inspected?
WHSmith was last inspected on 1 September 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Boston Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at WHSmith?
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 WHSmith compare to other places in Boston?
88% of the 578 rated food businesses in Boston hold the top rating of 5, and WHSmith is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Boston Council inspects WHSmith 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 WHSmith and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Boston inspects and rates 640 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Boston →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.boston.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 →