Grape Tree food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Maidstone
Grape Tree 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 16 January 2014, 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: Unit 238 And 239 Water Lane, The Mall Chequers Centre, King Street, ME15 6AR
How it compares in Maidstone
That puts Grape Tree 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% | ← Grape Tree | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Grape Tree 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 Grape Tree, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBs Coffee And Muffins Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
| B & M Retail Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 3 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2026 |
| Card Factory Retailers - other | 27 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2020 |
| Buzz Bingo - Maidstone Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| Appamma Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Bliss Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 173 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2024 |
| Ballin Maidstone Pub/bar/nightclub | 240 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 November 2025 |
Questions about Grape Tree
What is Grape Tree's food hygiene rating?
Grape Tree has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maidstone Council on 16 January 2014.
Is Grape Tree 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 Grape Tree last inspected?
Grape Tree was last inspected on 16 January 2014, more than 12 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 Grape Tree?
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 Grape Tree compare to other places in Maidstone?
82% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, and Grape Tree is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects Grape Tree 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 Grape Tree 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
Grape Tree is one of 18 rated food businesses in The Mall Chequers Centre. See every hygiene rating in The Mall Chequers Centre →
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 →