South Witham Village Shop food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · South Kesteven
South Witham Village Shop 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 11 July 2025, 12 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: 14 High Street, South Witham, NG33 5QB
How it compares in South Kesteven
A 1 is rare: only 12 of 1,098 rated places in South Kesteven score this low, about one in 92. By contrast 83% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 916 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 109 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 49 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ← South Witham Village Shop | |
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 78 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Major improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 South Witham Village Shop the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and the condition of the premises. 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 South Witham Village Shop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Witham Academy School/college/university | 247 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
| The Angel Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 257 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| Great Close Store Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 4 - Good | 24 September 2024 |
| Witham Plaice Fish and Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
| KB’s Sweet Treats Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| OK Diner Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| The Fox Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Travelodge Grantham South Witham Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.8 miles away | Exempt |
Questions about South Witham Village Shop
What is South Witham Village Shop's food hygiene rating?
South Witham Village Shop has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by South Kesteven Council on 11 July 2025.
Is South Witham Village Shop 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 South Witham Village Shop last inspected?
South Witham Village Shop was last inspected on 11 July 2025, 12 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 South Witham Village Shop?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "major improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does South Witham Village Shop compare to other places in South Kesteven?
83% of the 1,098 rated food businesses in South Kesteven hold the top rating of 5, while South Witham Village Shop holds a 1. 12 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Kesteven Council inspects South Witham Village Shop 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 South Witham Village Shop 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
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 →