First Stop Centre food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Braintree
First Stop Centre holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 17 February 2015, more than 11 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: 29 Bocking End, Braintree, Essex, CM7 9AE
How it compares in Braintree
That puts First Stop Centre among the 980 places in Braintree holding top marks, 85% 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 | 980 | 85% | ← First Stop Centre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 125 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 34 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 111 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 Very good
- 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 First Stop Centre 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 First Stop Centre, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee House In The Gardens Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Braintree Bagels Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 140 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2025 |
| Eking German Doner Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 205 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
| Braintree Nursing Home Caring Premises | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2025 |
| China Dynasty Takeaway/sandwich shop | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| Cross Road Care Caring Premises | 215 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 July 2019 |
| Candy Land Retailers - other | 234 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2025 |
| Elena's Bistro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 269 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2024 |
Questions about First Stop Centre
What is First Stop Centre's food hygiene rating?
First Stop Centre has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Braintree Council on 17 February 2015.
Is First Stop Centre 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was First Stop Centre last inspected?
First Stop Centre was last inspected on 17 February 2015, more than 11 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Braintree Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at First Stop Centre?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does First Stop Centre compare to other places in Braintree?
85% of the 1,156 rated food businesses in Braintree hold the top rating of 5, and First Stop Centre is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Braintree Council inspects First Stop Centre 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 First Stop Centre 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
Braintree inspects and rates 1,267 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Braintree →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.braintree.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 →