A La Carte Spice food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Tonbridge and Malling
A La Carte Spice holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 24 February 2026, 4 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 14 High Street, Snodland, Kent, ME6 5DF
How it compares in Tonbridge and Malling
A 2 is rare: only 18 of 963 rated places in Tonbridge and Malling score this low, about one in 54. By contrast 79% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 760 | 79% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 129 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 56 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ← A La Carte Spice | |
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 81 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 A La Carte Spice the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 A La Carte Spice, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Operative Group Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 38 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2025 |
| A 'n' D Bargain Food Store Retailers - other | 68 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
| Billy's Bakehouse Ltd Retailers - other | 68 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 September 2024 |
| Dragon Boat Takeaway/sandwich shop | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| Favorite Chicken \& Ribs Takeaway/sandwich shop | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| Collards Veg Retailers - other | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2025 |
| Elior UK Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 221 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
Questions about A La Carte Spice
What is A La Carte Spice's food hygiene rating?
A La Carte Spice has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Tonbridge and Malling Council on 24 February 2026.
Is A La Carte Spice safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway 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 A La Carte Spice last inspected?
A La Carte Spice was last inspected on 24 February 2026, 4 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 A La Carte Spice?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does A La Carte Spice compare to other places in Tonbridge and Malling?
79% of the 963 rated food businesses in Tonbridge and Malling hold the top rating of 5, while A La Carte Spice holds a 2. 18 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Tonbridge and Malling Council inspects A La Carte Spice 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 A La Carte Spice 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 2 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 Tonbridge and Malling, 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: Tonbridge and Malling
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
A La Carte Spice is one of 54 rated food businesses in Snodland. See every hygiene rating in Snodland →
Tonbridge and Malling inspects and rates 1,044 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 →