Sparks News food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Mid Sussex
Sparks News holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop 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 15 April 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: Sparks News, 56 Queens Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1EE
How it compares in Mid Sussex
In Mid Sussex, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so Sparks News sits behind roughly 1,031 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,031 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 127 | 10% | ← Sparks News | |
| 3 out of 5 | 59 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 116 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety 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 Sparks News 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 Sparks News, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elan Preschool Haywards Heath Caring Premises | 303 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 June 2026 |
| Maplehurst Nursing Home Caring Premises | 307 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 362 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2025 |
| Budgens Retailers - other | 413 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 January 2025 |
| Hedgehogs & Badgers Nursery School Caring Premises | 421 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2025 |
| Cafe Local Pl 1 & 2 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2026 |
| Cafe Local Pl 3&4 Haywards Heath Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2026 |
| Elan Day Nursery In Haywards Heath Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 June 2026 |
Questions about Sparks News
What is Sparks News's food hygiene rating?
Sparks News has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Mid Sussex Council on 15 April 2024.
Is Sparks News 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 shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Sparks News last inspected?
Sparks News was last inspected on 15 April 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Sussex Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sparks News?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sparks News compare to other places in Mid Sussex?
83% of the 1,248 rated food businesses in Mid Sussex hold the top rating of 5, while Sparks News holds a 4. 127 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Sussex Council inspects Sparks News 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 Sparks News 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
Sparks News is one of 337 rated food businesses in Haywards Heath. See every hygiene rating in Haywards Heath →
Mid Sussex inspects and rates 1,364 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Sussex →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsussex.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 →