The Gem Newsagents food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Folkestone and Hythe
The Gem Newsagents holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 17 March 2022, more than 4 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: 78-80A Dymchurch Road, Hythe, CT21 6LH
How it compares in Folkestone and Hythe
In Folkestone and Hythe, 84% of rated places manage a 5, so The Gem Newsagents sits behind roughly 958 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 958 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 111 | 10% | ← The Gem Newsagents | |
| 3 out of 5 | 62 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 144 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 The Gem Newsagents 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 The Gem Newsagents, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chens Garden Takeaway/sandwich shop | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2023 |
| Hythe Town Football Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 215 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2023 |
| Shepway Foodbank Other catering premises | 215 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2022 |
| RH&DR Hythe Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 248 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 December 2024 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 336 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 November 2023 |
| Little Explorers Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Sainsburys Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2023 |
| Hythe View Nursing Home Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
Questions about The Gem Newsagents
What is The Gem Newsagents's food hygiene rating?
The Gem Newsagents has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Folkestone and Hythe Council on 17 March 2022.
Is The Gem Newsagents safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Gem Newsagents last inspected?
The Gem Newsagents was last inspected on 17 March 2022, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Folkestone and Hythe Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Gem Newsagents?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Gem Newsagents compare to other places in Folkestone and Hythe?
84% of the 1,140 rated food businesses in Folkestone and Hythe hold the top rating of 5, while The Gem Newsagents holds a 4. 111 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Folkestone and Hythe Council inspects The Gem Newsagents 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 The Gem Newsagents and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Gem Newsagents is one of 128 rated food businesses in Hythe. See every hygiene rating in Hythe →
Folkestone and Hythe inspects and rates 1,284 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Folkestone and Hythe →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.folkestone-hythe.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 →