Abbey News food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Wiltshire
Abbey News 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 19 March 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: 4, Malmesbury, SN16 9AS
How it compares in Wiltshire
A 1 is rare: only 32 of 2,950 rated places in Wiltshire score this low, about one in 92. By contrast 81% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,380 | 81% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 335 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 174 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 25 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 32 | 1% | ← Abbey News | |
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 1,252 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 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 Abbey News 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.
Questions about Abbey News
What is Abbey News's food hygiene rating?
Abbey News has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Wiltshire Council on 19 March 2024.
Is Abbey News 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 Abbey News last inspected?
Abbey News was last inspected on 19 March 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Wiltshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Abbey News?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Abbey News compare to other places in Wiltshire?
81% of the 2,950 rated food businesses in Wiltshire hold the top rating of 5, while Abbey News holds a 1. 32 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Wiltshire Council inspects Abbey 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 Abbey 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 →
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 Wiltshire, 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: Wiltshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Abbey News is one of 54 rated food businesses in Malmesbury. See every hygiene rating in Malmesbury →
Wiltshire inspects and rates 4,202 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Wiltshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.wiltshire.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 →