The East Kent food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Canterbury City
The East Kent holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The East Kent was inspected on 29 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 1% of rated food businesses in Canterbury City score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Canterbury City ratings →
Address: 72 Oxford Street, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1DA
How this rating has changed
The East Kent has gone backwards: it held a 3 before its inspection on 29 July 2026, and now holds a 2. A rating of 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 29 July 2026 | 3 2 | Worse |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Canterbury City
A 2 is rare: only 22 of 1,486 rated places in Canterbury City score this low, about one in 68. By contrast 78% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,155 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 188 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 119 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ← The East Kent | |
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 166 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 Generally satisfactory
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 East Kent the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 East Kent, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Legion Social Centre Pub/bar/nightclub | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 April 2018 |
| Drift Bistro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2026 |
| Co-Op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2026 |
| Co-Op Stores Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
| Labour Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 133 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2025 |
| Inclusive Sport (After School Club) School/college/university | 142 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2025 |
| Castellum Pizzeria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 162 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Amedea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 167 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2025 |
Questions about The East Kent
What is The East Kent's food hygiene rating?
The East Kent has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Canterbury City Council on 29 July 2026.
Is The East Kent safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub 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 East Kent last inspected?
The East Kent was last inspected on 29 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Canterbury City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The East Kent?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The East Kent compare to other places in Canterbury City?
78% of the 1,486 rated food businesses in Canterbury City hold the top rating of 5, while The East Kent holds a 2. 22 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Canterbury City Council inspects The East Kent 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 East Kent 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 2 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 Canterbury City, 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: Canterbury City
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The East Kent is one of 287 rated food businesses in Whitstable. See every hygiene rating in Whitstable →
Canterbury City inspects and rates 1,652 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Canterbury City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.canterbury.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 →