Polka Deli Ltd food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Tunbridge Wells
Polka Deli Ltd holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the shop that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 6 August 2025, 11 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: 30 Mount Ephraim, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8AU
How it compares in Tunbridge Wells
A 2 is rare: only 9 of 1,038 rated places in Tunbridge Wells score this low, about one in 115. By contrast 83% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 860 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 114 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ← Polka Deli Ltd | |
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 45 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 Polka Deli Ltd the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Polka Deli Ltd, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowl Delight Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
| After School Club - Honey Bee Club School/college/university | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2022 |
| Fourteen Arrows Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 180 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 October 2021 |
| Fiveways Post Office Retailers - other | 181 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Fireaway Pizza Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 221 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2025 |
| Basil Wholefoods Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2025 |
| Claudias Place At Oakley Fitness Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2025 |
Questions about Polka Deli Ltd
What is Polka Deli Ltd's food hygiene rating?
Polka Deli Ltd has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Tunbridge Wells Council on 6 August 2025.
Is Polka Deli Ltd safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Polka Deli Ltd last inspected?
Polka Deli Ltd was last inspected on 6 August 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tunbridge Wells Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Polka Deli Ltd?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Polka Deli Ltd compare to other places in Tunbridge Wells?
83% of the 1,038 rated food businesses in Tunbridge Wells hold the top rating of 5, while Polka Deli Ltd holds a 2. 9 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Tunbridge Wells Council inspects Polka Deli Ltd 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 Polka Deli Ltd 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 2 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 Tunbridge Wells, 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: Tunbridge Wells
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Polka Deli Ltd is one of 465 rated food businesses in Royal Tunbridge Wells. See every hygiene rating in Royal Tunbridge Wells →
Tunbridge Wells inspects and rates 1,083 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tunbridge Wells →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tunbridgewells.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 →