W H Smith (Northbound Shop) food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Newcastle-Under-Lyme
W H Smith (Northbound Shop) 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 20 November 2024, 19 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: Welcome Break - Keele Services, Three Mile Lane, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 5HG
How it compares in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
That puts W H Smith (Northbound Shop) among the 779 places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme holding top marks, 87% 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 | 779 | 87% | ← W H Smith (Northbound Shop) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 70 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 85 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 W H Smith (Northbound Shop) 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 W H Smith (Northbound Shop), nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King (Bridge) Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| Chopstix Other catering premises | 61 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2025 |
| Apedale Heritage Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2025 |
| Chapters Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| Co-Operative Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2025 |
| David Weatherall Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2024 |
| Cafe Central Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
Questions about W H Smith (Northbound Shop)
What is W H Smith (Northbound Shop)'s food hygiene rating?
W H Smith (Northbound Shop) has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council on 20 November 2024.
Is W H Smith (Northbound Shop) 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 W H Smith (Northbound Shop) last inspected?
W H Smith (Northbound Shop) was last inspected on 20 November 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at W H Smith (Northbound Shop)?
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 W H Smith (Northbound Shop) compare to other places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
87% of the 894 rated food businesses in Newcastle-Under-Lyme hold the top rating of 5, and W H Smith (Northbound Shop) is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council inspects W H Smith (Northbound Shop) 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 W H Smith (Northbound Shop) 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
W H Smith (Northbound Shop) is one of 618 rated food businesses in Newcastle under Lyme. See every hygiene rating in Newcastle under Lyme →
Newcastle-Under-Lyme inspects and rates 979 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newcastle-Under-Lyme →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newcastle-staffs.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 →