Candlesticks food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · South Kesteven
Candlesticks holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the hotel and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 4 September 2025, 10 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: 1 Church Lane, Stamford, PE9 2JU
How it compares in South Kesteven
A 1 is rare: only 12 of 1,097 rated places in South Kesteven score this low, about one in 91. By contrast 84% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 917 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 107 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 49 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ← Candlesticks | |
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 79 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 Major improvement necessary
- 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 Candlesticks the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises 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 Candlesticks, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| SES Stamford School Sixth Form School/college/university | 216 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2025 |
| Pizza Express Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 224 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| Adnams Cellar & Kitchen Store Retailers - other | 318 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2023 |
| Castle Street Deli Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 381 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2026 |
| Gooch's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 381 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2025 |
| JK's Lounge Stamford Pub/bar/nightclub | 394 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2026 |
| Jinju Cha Takeaway/sandwich shop | 395 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
| Cosy Club Stamford Pub/bar/nightclub | 416 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2024 |
Questions about Candlesticks
What is Candlesticks's food hygiene rating?
Candlesticks has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by South Kesteven Council on 4 September 2025.
Is Candlesticks safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The hotel 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 Candlesticks last inspected?
Candlesticks was last inspected on 4 September 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Kesteven Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Candlesticks?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", 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 Candlesticks compare to other places in South Kesteven?
84% of the 1,097 rated food businesses in South Kesteven hold the top rating of 5, while Candlesticks holds a 1. 12 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Kesteven Council inspects Candlesticks 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 Candlesticks 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 South Kesteven, 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: South Kesteven
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Candlesticks is one of 177 rated food businesses in Stamford. See every hygiene rating in Stamford →
South Kesteven inspects and rates 1,176 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Kesteven →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southkesteven.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 →