The Spitfire food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Tonbridge and Malling
The Spitfire holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 24 October 2024, 20 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 1 Liberty Square, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4AU
How it compares in Tonbridge and Malling
That puts The Spitfire among the 771 places in Tonbridge and Malling holding top marks, 80% 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 | 771 | 80% | ← The Spitfire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 123 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 56 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 84 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building 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 The Spitfire 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 Spitfire, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Square Sports Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| Memphis Belle Sandwich Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2025 |
| PepperHomies Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2024 |
| Panku Takeaway/sandwich shop | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| Radish Food Services Group Ltd@ Kings Hill Primary School School/college/university | 226 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| Cafe At The Landings Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 245 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2025 |
Questions about The Spitfire
What is The Spitfire's food hygiene rating?
The Spitfire has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Tonbridge and Malling Council on 24 October 2024.
Is The Spitfire 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Spitfire last inspected?
The Spitfire was last inspected on 24 October 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tonbridge and Malling Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Spitfire?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 The Spitfire compare to other places in Tonbridge and Malling?
80% of the 968 rated food businesses in Tonbridge and Malling hold the top rating of 5, and The Spitfire is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Tonbridge and Malling Council inspects The Spitfire 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 Spitfire 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
The Spitfire is one of 134 rated food businesses in West Malling. See every hygiene rating in West Malling →
Tonbridge and Malling inspects and rates 1,052 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tonbridge and Malling →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tmbc.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 →