The Ship food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Dartford
The Ship holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 4 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Puddledock Lane, Wilmington, Kent, DA2 7QF
How it compares in Dartford
In Dartford, 77% of rated places manage a 5, so The Ship sits behind roughly 713 nearby businesses. 14% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 713 | 77% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 131 | 14% | ← The Ship | |
| 3 out of 5 | 53 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 153 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 The Ship 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 The Ship, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berries & Beans Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2024 |
| Birchwood Park Golf Club (Catering) Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Acorns Early Years Centre Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Breakfast & Afterschool Club @ Maypole County Primary School School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2026 |
Questions about The Ship
What is The Ship's food hygiene rating?
The Ship has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Dartford Council on 4 June 2024.
Is The Ship safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Ship last inspected?
The Ship was last inspected on 4 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dartford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ship?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Ship compare to other places in Dartford?
77% of the 923 rated food businesses in Dartford hold the top rating of 5, while The Ship holds a 4. 131 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Dartford Council inspects The Ship 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 Ship and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Ship is one of 39 rated food businesses in Wilmington. See every hygiene rating in Wilmington →
Dartford inspects and rates 1,076 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dartford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dartford.gov.uk/foodsafety/index.htm
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 →