Ken Ballard Ltd food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Maidstone
Ken Ballard Ltd holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 15 May 2025, 13 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: Kent Ballard Ltd, West End, Marden, TN12 9HZ
How it compares in Maidstone
In Maidstone, 82% of rated places manage a 5, so Ken Ballard Ltd sits behind roughly 1,136 nearby businesses. 12% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,136 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 165 | 12% | ← Ken Ballard Ltd | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Ken Ballard Ltd 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 Ken Ballard Ltd, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| West End Stores Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2016 |
| West End Tavern Pub/bar/nightclub | 52 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 8 January 2026 |
| Marden Pre-School School/college/university | 111 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2017 |
| Fox Den Nursery Caring Premises | 128 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2025 |
| Breakfast Club At Marden County Primary School School/college/university | 132 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2022 |
| Impact Food Group At Marden County Primary School School/college/university | 132 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 November 2025 |
| Kebab Fish Knight Takeaway/sandwich shop | 180 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
| Nisa Local Marden Stores Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 180 yards away | 4 - Good | 29 November 2017 |
Questions about Ken Ballard Ltd
What is Ken Ballard Ltd's food hygiene rating?
Ken Ballard Ltd has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Maidstone Council on 15 May 2025.
Is Ken Ballard Ltd safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Ken Ballard Ltd last inspected?
Ken Ballard Ltd was last inspected on 15 May 2025, 13 months 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 Ken Ballard Ltd?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Ken Ballard Ltd compare to other places in Maidstone?
82% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, while Ken Ballard Ltd holds a 4. 165 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects Ken Ballard Ltd 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 Ken Ballard Ltd 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
Ken Ballard Ltd is one of 35 rated food businesses in Marden. See every hygiene rating in Marden →
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 →