Mole Country Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Winchester City
Mole Country Stores 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 8 May 2013, more than 13 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: Easton Lane, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7RU
How it compares in Winchester City
That puts Mole Country Stores among the 966 places in Winchester City holding top marks, 89% 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 | 966 | 89% | ← Mole Country Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 91 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 20 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
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 Mole Country Stores 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 Mole Country Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa @ Tesco Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 August 2024 |
| Boka Distributors/Transporters | 342 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| Food For Now Distributors/Transporters | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Dungaroos Preschool Ltd AKA Dungaroos Winchester Ltd School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| 2Tees Food Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
| Breakfast And Beyond Winchester Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Bright Horizons Winchester Day Nursery And Preschool Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| Brendoncare- St Giles View Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
Questions about Mole Country Stores
What is Mole Country Stores's food hygiene rating?
Mole Country Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Winchester City Council on 8 May 2013.
Is Mole Country Stores 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 Mole Country Stores last inspected?
Mole Country Stores was last inspected on 8 May 2013, more than 13 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Winchester City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Mole Country Stores?
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 Mole Country Stores compare to other places in Winchester City?
89% of the 1,084 rated food businesses in Winchester City hold the top rating of 5, and Mole Country Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Winchester City Council inspects Mole Country Stores 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 Mole Country Stores and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Winchester City inspects and rates 1,169 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Winchester City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.winchester.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 →