Universal Foods food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Universal Foods 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
This rating dates from 10 February 2026, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: 14-16 George Street, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 1DJ
How it compares in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
A 1 is rare: only 15 of 894 rated places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme score this low, about one in 60. By contrast 87% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 779 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 70 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ← Universal Foods | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 85 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 Universal Foods 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 Universal Foods, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amanda Copeland Hair and Beauty Retailers - other | 206 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Basmati Other catering premises | 304 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| Abdullah Abbas Retailers - other | 317 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2026 |
| Belle A Pepe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 384 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2026 |
| Anasma Greek Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
| Artisan Tap Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2021 |
| Boba Trent Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Black Friar Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2026 |
Questions about Universal Foods
What is Universal Foods's food hygiene rating?
Universal Foods has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council on 10 February 2026.
Is Universal Foods 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 Universal Foods last inspected?
Universal Foods was last inspected on 10 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Universal Foods?
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 Universal Foods compare to other places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
87% of the 894 rated food businesses in Newcastle-Under-Lyme hold the top rating of 5, while Universal Foods holds a 1. 15 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council inspects Universal Foods 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 Universal Foods 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 Newcastle-Under-Lyme, 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: Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Universal Foods is one of 618 rated food businesses in Newcastle under Lyme. See every hygiene rating in Newcastle under Lyme →
Newcastle-Under-Lyme inspects and rates 979 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newcastle-Under-Lyme →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newcastle-staffs.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 →