Dover market food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Dover
Dover market holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 7 January 2026, 6 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: 43 Biggin Street, Dover, CT16 1DB
How it compares in Dover
A 1 is rare: only 15 of 1,086 rated places in Dover score this low, about one in 72. 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 | 892 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 113 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ← Dover market | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 112 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Dover market the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled 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 Dover market, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buzz Bingo Pub/bar/nightclub | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
| Fish Boss Takeaway/sandwich shop | 42 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2026 |
| Biggin Off Licence Retailers - other | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2024 |
| Anikeoniworobo Global ltd Retailers - other | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2026 |
| Brunch Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| Amarillos Food Centre Takeaway/sandwich shop | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2026 |
| Bubble Tea Base Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2025 |
| Hello Dim Sum Takeaway/sandwich shop | 125 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2025 |
Questions about Dover market
What is Dover market's food hygiene rating?
Dover market has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Dover Council on 7 January 2026.
Is Dover market safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop 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 Dover market last inspected?
Dover market was last inspected on 7 January 2026, 6 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dover Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Dover market?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Dover market compare to other places in Dover?
82% of the 1,086 rated food businesses in Dover hold the top rating of 5, while Dover market holds a 1. 15 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Dover Council inspects Dover market 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 Dover market 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 Dover, 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: Dover
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Dover inspects and rates 1,198 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dover →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dover.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 →