Balcombe Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Mid Sussex
Balcombe Stores holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: Balcombe Stores was inspected on 13 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
92% of rated food businesses in Mid Sussex score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Mid Sussex ratings →
Address: The Balcombe Stores, Haywards Heath Road, Balcombe, RH17 6PA
How this rating has changed
Balcombe Stores was re-inspected on 13 July 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 13 July 2026 | 5 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Mid Sussex
That puts Balcombe Stores among the 1,014 places in Mid Sussex holding top marks, 82% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,014 | 82% | ← Balcombe Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 126 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 57 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 20 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 115 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 Good
- 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 Balcombe Stores 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.
Questions about Balcombe Stores
What is Balcombe Stores's food hygiene rating?
Balcombe Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Sussex Council on 13 July 2026.
Is Balcombe Stores safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Balcombe Stores last inspected?
Balcombe Stores was last inspected on 13 July 2026, a month 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 Balcombe Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Balcombe Stores compare to other places in Mid Sussex?
82% of the 1,234 rated food businesses in Mid Sussex hold the top rating of 5, and Balcombe Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Sussex Council inspects Balcombe Stores 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 Balcombe Stores 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
Balcombe Stores is one of 332 rated food businesses in Haywards Heath. See every hygiene rating in Haywards Heath →
Mid Sussex inspects and rates 1,349 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 →