St Stephen's Playgroup food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Medway
St Stephen's Playgroup holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 2 March 2026, 4 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: St Stephens Church, Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME4 6JE
How it compares in Medway
That puts St Stephen's Playgroup among the 1,577 places in Medway holding top marks, 80% 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 | 1,577 | 80% | ← St Stephen's Playgroup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 279 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 74 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 171 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 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 St Stephen's Playgroup 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 St Stephen's Playgroup, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amhurst Court Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
| Barchester Health Care Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
| Beresford Pre-School Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2024 |
| Balfour Convenience Store Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2025 |
| Best Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2026 |
| 4 Continents Stores Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2024 |
| Bill's Kitchen Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
| Asia Express Fast Food Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 November 2025 |
Questions about St Stephen's Playgroup
What is St Stephen's Playgroup's food hygiene rating?
St Stephen's Playgroup has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Medway Council on 2 March 2026.
Is St Stephen's Playgroup 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 care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was St Stephen's Playgroup last inspected?
St Stephen's Playgroup was last inspected on 2 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Medway Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at St Stephen's Playgroup?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does St Stephen's Playgroup compare to other places in Medway?
80% of the 1,964 rated food businesses in Medway hold the top rating of 5, and St Stephen's Playgroup is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Medway Council inspects St Stephen's Playgroup 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 St Stephen's Playgroup and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
St Stephen's Playgroup is one of 409 rated food businesses in Chatham. See every hygiene rating in Chatham →
Medway inspects and rates 2,135 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Medway →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.medway.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 →