Houghtons Newsagents food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Liverpool
Houghtons Newsagents holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the shop requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Houghtons Newsagents was inspected on 15 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 16 Queens Drive, Liverpool, L15 7NE
How this rating has changed
Houghtons Newsagents was re-inspected on 15 June 2026 and held its rating of 0.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2026 | 0 0 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Liverpool
A 0 is rare: only 38 of 3,383 rated places in Liverpool score this low, about one in 89. By contrast 67% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,273 | 67% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 530 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 331 | 10% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 123 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 88 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 38 | 1% | ← Houghtons Newsagents |
A further 1,143 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Major improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Urgent improvement necessary
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 Houghtons Newsagents the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. 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 Houghtons Newsagents, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2023 |
| A A News Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2020 |
| Bargain Booze Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2018 |
| Bargain Booze Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2015 |
| Allied Pharmacy Old Swan Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2025 |
| Barley Mow Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2024 |
| Abbey Friar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2024 |
| Alder Hey News Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 June 2018 |
Questions about Houghtons Newsagents
What is Houghtons Newsagents's food hygiene rating?
Houghtons Newsagents has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by Liverpool Council on 15 June 2026.
Is Houghtons Newsagents safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The shop may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was Houghtons Newsagents last inspected?
Houghtons Newsagents was last inspected on 15 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Liverpool Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Houghtons Newsagents?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "urgent improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Houghtons Newsagents compare to other places in Liverpool?
67% of the 3,383 rated food businesses in Liverpool hold the top rating of 5, while Houghtons Newsagents holds a 0. 38 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Liverpool Council inspects Houghtons Newsagents 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 Houghtons Newsagents 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 0 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 Liverpool, 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: Liverpool
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Liverpool inspects and rates 4,526 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Liverpool →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.liverpool.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 →