Handy Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · East Hampshire
Handy 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 31 May 2022, more than 4 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: Handy Stores High Street Medstead Alton GU34 5LW, GU34 5LW
How it compares in East Hampshire
That puts Handy Stores among the 803 places in East Hampshire 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 | 803 | 84% | ← Handy Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 120 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 88 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 Handy 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 Handy Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAMEO Lunch Club At St John's Other catering premises | 135 yards away | 4 - Good | 17 February 2026 |
| Castle Of Comfort Pub/bar/nightclub | 236 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2026 |
| Single Steps Nurseries Caring Premises | 359 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Medstead CofE Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Medstead Pre-school & Nursery Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2025 |
| Medstead Coffee Morning Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2025 |
| Medstead Voluntary Care Group Lunch Club Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2025 |
| Kings Lodge Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2021 |
Questions about Handy Stores
What is Handy Stores's food hygiene rating?
Handy Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Hampshire Council on 31 May 2022.
Is Handy 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 Handy Stores last inspected?
Handy Stores was last inspected on 31 May 2022, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Hampshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Handy 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 Handy Stores compare to other places in East Hampshire?
84% of the 958 rated food businesses in East Hampshire hold the top rating of 5, and Handy Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Hampshire Council inspects Handy 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 Handy Stores 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
East Hampshire inspects and rates 1,046 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Hampshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.easthants.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 →