Helmdon Community Larder food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · West Northamptonshire
Helmdon Community Larder 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 17 October 2025, 8 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: The Reading Room, 20 Church Street, Helmdon, NN13 5QJ
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
That puts Helmdon Community Larder among the 2,565 places in West Northamptonshire holding top marks, 78% 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 | 2,565 | 78% | ← Helmdon Community Larder | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 377 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 44 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 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 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 Helmdon Community Larder 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 Helmdon Community Larder, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fat Landlord Pub/bar/nightclub | 154 yards away | 4 - Good | 17 February 2026 |
| Helmdon Acorns Pre-School School/college/university | 236 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Fresh Start Catering School/college/university | 300 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
Questions about Helmdon Community Larder
What is Helmdon Community Larder's food hygiene rating?
Helmdon Community Larder has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 17 October 2025.
Is Helmdon Community Larder 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 Helmdon Community Larder last inspected?
Helmdon Community Larder was last inspected on 17 October 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Helmdon Community Larder?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Helmdon Community Larder compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, and Helmdon Community Larder is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects Helmdon Community Larder 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 Helmdon Community Larder 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
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →