5

The Paper Mill food hygiene rating

Pub/bar/nightclub · Swale

The Paper Mill holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 22 October 2013, more than 12 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: 2 Charlotte Street, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2JN

How it compares in Swale

That puts The Paper Mill among the 989 places in Swale holding top marks, 83% 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.

Every rated food business in Swale
5 out of 5 989 83% ← The Paper Mill
4 out of 5 134 11%
3 out of 5 41 3%
2 out of 5 6 1%
1 out of 5 13 1%
0 out of 5 3 <1%

A further 40 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 The Paper Mill 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 The Paper Mill, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Big Boys Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop 163 yards away 5 - Very good 8 May 2026
Hot And Herbs Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 163 yards away 5 - Very good 26 February 2026
Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop 231 yards away 5 - Very good 15 August 2024
Active Play Nursery Ltd Caring Premises 294 yards away 5 - Very good 12 May 2025
Hawthorn Store (Best One) Retailers - other 347 yards away 5 - Very good 1 February 2016
Blair Park Caring Premises 402 yards away 5 - Very good 10 May 2025
Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 426 yards away 5 - Very good 22 April 2025
Home Bargains Retailers - other 426 yards away 5 - Very good 19 July 2018

Questions about The Paper Mill

What is The Paper Mill's food hygiene rating?

The Paper Mill has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Swale Council on 22 October 2013.

Is The Paper Mill 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was The Paper Mill last inspected?

The Paper Mill was last inspected on 22 October 2013, more than 12 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swale Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at The Paper Mill?

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 The Paper Mill compare to other places in Swale?

83% of the 1,186 rated food businesses in Swale hold the top rating of 5, and The Paper Mill is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Swale Council inspects The Paper Mill 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 The Paper Mill and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

The Paper Mill is one of 298 rated food businesses in Sittingbourne. See every hygiene rating in Sittingbourne

Swale inspects and rates 1,226 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swale

The official record is held by the council: http://www.swale.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 →