Bettys Newsagents food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Maidstone
Bettys Newsagents 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 21 July 2016, more than 9 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: 197 Upper Fant Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8BX
How it compares in Maidstone
That puts Bettys Newsagents among the 1,136 places in Maidstone holding top marks, 82% 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 | 1,136 | 82% | ← Bettys Newsagents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 165 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 61 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 65 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 Bettys Newsagents 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 Bettys Newsagents, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busy Lizzy Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2013 |
| Bridge House Fant Oast (NHS Kent And Medway) Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2024 |
| Avon Manor House Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2024 |
| Caterlink At St Michaels C Of E Infants School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2013 |
| Bower Grove School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 October 2025 |
| Barming Fish And Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2024 |
| Andys Food Factory Mobile caterer | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| Busy Bees At Maidstone Oakwood Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2025 |
Questions about Bettys Newsagents
What is Bettys Newsagents's food hygiene rating?
Bettys Newsagents has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maidstone Council on 21 July 2016.
Is Bettys Newsagents 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 Bettys Newsagents last inspected?
Bettys Newsagents was last inspected on 21 July 2016, more than 9 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maidstone Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bettys Newsagents?
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 Bettys Newsagents compare to other places in Maidstone?
82% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, and Bettys Newsagents is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects Bettys Newsagents 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 Bettys Newsagents and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Maidstone inspects and rates 1,452 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Maidstone →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.maidstone.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 →