WH Smith food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Lincoln City
WH Smith 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 2 September 2025, 10 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: Lincoln County Hospital, Greetwell Road, Lincoln, LN2 5QY
How it compares in Lincoln City
That puts WH Smith among the 949 places in Lincoln City holding top marks, 94% 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 | 949 | 94% | ← WH Smith | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 40 | 4% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 96 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 Very 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 WH Smith 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 WH Smith, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berties- Peopleplus Other catering premises | 251 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2025 |
| Arboretum Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2026 |
| Black Peppermint Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2025 |
| Bargain Food & Wine Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 August 2023 |
| Adam & Eve Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2026 |
| Baggholme Fish Shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2025 |
| Abbey Access Training Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2024 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2026 |
Questions about WH Smith
What is WH Smith's food hygiene rating?
WH Smith has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Lincoln City Council on 2 September 2025.
Is WH Smith 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 WH Smith last inspected?
WH Smith was last inspected on 2 September 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lincoln City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at WH Smith?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 WH Smith compare to other places in Lincoln City?
94% of the 1,014 rated food businesses in Lincoln City hold the top rating of 5, and WH Smith is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Lincoln City Council inspects WH Smith 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 WH Smith and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Lincoln City inspects and rates 1,110 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lincoln City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lincoln.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 →