W H Smith food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Folkestone and Hythe
W H Smith 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 13 February 2025, 17 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: Stop 24 Services and Port Early Arrivals Stanford Intersection, Stanford, CT21 4BL
How it compares in Folkestone and Hythe
That puts W H Smith among the 958 places in Folkestone and Hythe holding top marks, 84% 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 | 958 | 84% | ← W H Smith | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 111 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 62 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 144 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 Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 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, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2025 |
| KFC Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
| McDonalds Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2025 |
| Burnetts Fish and Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 387 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2026 |
| Donair Takeaway/sandwich shop | 387 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| Noodle Stop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 387 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Shell Channel Gateway Retailers - other | 387 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| Subway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 387 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
Questions about W H Smith
What is W H Smith's food hygiene rating?
W H Smith has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Folkestone and Hythe Council on 13 February 2025.
Is W H Smith 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 last inspected?
W H Smith was last inspected on 13 February 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Folkestone and Hythe Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at W H Smith?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does W H Smith compare to other places in Folkestone and Hythe?
84% of the 1,140 rated food businesses in Folkestone and Hythe hold the top rating of 5, and W H Smith is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Folkestone and Hythe Council inspects W H Smith 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 and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Folkestone and Hythe inspects and rates 1,284 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Folkestone and Hythe →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.folkestone-hythe.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 →