Sophies Chocolates food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Buckinghamshire
Sophies Chocolates 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 29 March 2012, more than 14 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: 3-4 The Gatehouse, Blucher Street, Chesham, HP5 2JB
How it compares in Buckinghamshire
In Buckinghamshire, 81% of rated places manage a 5, so Sophies Chocolates sits behind roughly 3,226 nearby businesses. 13% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,226 | 81% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 530 | 13% | ← Sophies Chocolates | |
| 3 out of 5 | 171 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 42 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 615 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 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 Sophies Chocolates 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 Sophies Chocolates, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesham Community Fridge Retailers - other | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2018 |
| Broadway Newsagents Retailers - other | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2011 |
| Burger Inn Takeaway/sandwich shop | 167 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2024 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 April 2025 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Jasmine Thai Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 207 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 March 2010 |
| Big Juicy Burgers Chesham Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 216 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2025 |
Questions about Sophies Chocolates
What is Sophies Chocolates's food hygiene rating?
Sophies Chocolates has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Buckinghamshire Council on 29 March 2012.
Is Sophies Chocolates 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 Sophies Chocolates last inspected?
Sophies Chocolates was last inspected on 29 March 2012, more than 14 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Buckinghamshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sophies Chocolates?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sophies Chocolates compare to other places in Buckinghamshire?
81% of the 4,001 rated food businesses in Buckinghamshire hold the top rating of 5, while Sophies Chocolates holds a 4. 530 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Buckinghamshire Council inspects Sophies Chocolates 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 Sophies Chocolates and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sophies Chocolates is one of 138 rated food businesses in Chesham. See every hygiene rating in Chesham →
Buckinghamshire inspects and rates 4,616 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Buckinghamshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.buckinghamshire.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 →