Best and Less Supermarket food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Reading
Best and Less Supermarket 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
This is a fresh result: Best and Less Supermarket was inspected on 18 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 55 Basingstoke Road, Reading, RG2 0ER
How it compares in Reading
A 1 is rare: only 41 of 1,362 rated places in Reading score this low, about one in 33. By contrast 65% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 881 | 65% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 248 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 148 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ← Best and Less Supermarket | |
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 155 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Best and Less Supermarket the inspector recorded concerns over 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 Best and Less Supermarket, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Day Local Retailers - other | 7 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2019 |
| Alper Kebabs Mobile Van outside National Tyres Mobile caterer | 302 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2026 |
| Artisan Loaf Makers Other catering premises | 410 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Ahmed Superstore Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2024 |
| 7p Aperitivo Ltd Importers/Exporters | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2025 |
| Apollo Youth Club Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2025 |
| BJ's Luxury Bingo Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
Questions about Best and Less Supermarket
What is Best and Less Supermarket's food hygiene rating?
Best and Less Supermarket has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Reading Council on 18 May 2026.
Is Best and Less Supermarket 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 Best and Less Supermarket last inspected?
Best and Less Supermarket was last inspected on 18 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Reading Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Best and Less Supermarket?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Best and Less Supermarket compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, while Best and Less Supermarket holds a 1. 41 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects Best and Less Supermarket 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 Best and Less Supermarket 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 Reading, 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: Reading
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Reading inspects and rates 1,517 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Reading →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.reading.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 →