The Dickens Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Swale
The Dickens Inn 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 5 March 2019, more than 7 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: Dickens Inn, Fourth Avenue, Eastchurch, ME12 4EW
How it compares in Swale
That puts The Dickens Inn 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.
| 5 out of 5 | 989 | 83% | ← The Dickens Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building 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 The Dickens Inn 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 Dickens Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Coppice Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| Sunnymead Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 171 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2025 |
| Sunny Side Up Burger Van Mobile caterer | 171 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Elmhurst Clubhouse Pub/bar/nightclub | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| Retreat Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 312 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 June 2025 |
| Shurland Dale Holiday Park Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 409 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 May 2023 |
| The Boathouse Pub/bar/nightclub | 409 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2026 |
| Palms Sports Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2025 |
Questions about The Dickens Inn
What is The Dickens Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Dickens Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Swale Council on 5 March 2019.
Is The Dickens Inn 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 Dickens Inn last inspected?
The Dickens Inn was last inspected on 5 March 2019, more than 7 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 Dickens Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 The Dickens Inn compare to other places in Swale?
83% of the 1,186 rated food businesses in Swale hold the top rating of 5, and The Dickens Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Swale Council inspects The Dickens Inn 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 Dickens Inn 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 Dickens Inn is one of 30 rated food businesses in Eastchurch. See every hygiene rating in Eastchurch →
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 →