W H Smith Ltd food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Lewisham
W H Smith Ltd 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
The rating dates from 28 September 2017, more than 8 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: Devonshire Road, London, SE23 3HD
How it compares in Lewisham
That puts W H Smith Ltd among the 1,249 places in Lewisham holding top marks, 62% 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 | 1,249 | 62% | ← W H Smith Ltd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 457 | 23% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 236 | 12% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 35 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 28 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 449 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 Very good
- 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 W H Smith Ltd 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 W H Smith Ltd, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ama Sushi Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 200 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2025 |
| Adamsrill Primary School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Aspects - Food By Design Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2024 |
| Am supermarket Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2025 |
| Adamsrill After School Club Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Aquarius golf club (licensed bar) Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 August 2023 |
| Accent Catering (Sydenham High) School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2026 |
| Artist Cake Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2024 |
Questions about W H Smith Ltd
What is W H Smith Ltd's food hygiene rating?
W H Smith Ltd has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Lewisham Council on 28 September 2017.
Is W H Smith Ltd 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 W H Smith Ltd last inspected?
W H Smith Ltd was last inspected on 28 September 2017, more than 8 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lewisham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at W H Smith Ltd?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does W H Smith Ltd compare to other places in Lewisham?
62% of the 2,009 rated food businesses in Lewisham hold the top rating of 5, and W H Smith Ltd is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Lewisham Council inspects W H Smith Ltd 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 W H Smith Ltd and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Lewisham inspects and rates 2,458 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lewisham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/business/food-safety/Pages/default.aspx
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 →