W.H. Smith food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Stockport
W.H. Smith 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 23 January 2018, more than 8 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: Stockport Railway Station, Station Road, Stockport, SK3 9HZ
How it compares in Stockport
In Stockport, 82% of rated places manage a 5, so W.H. Smith sits behind roughly 1,728 nearby businesses. 12% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,728 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 252 | 12% | ← W.H. Smith | |
| 3 out of 5 | 89 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 28 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 637 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 Generally satisfactory
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 W.H. Smith 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 W.H. Smith, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bask Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2025 |
| Beijing City Takeaway/sandwich shop | 271 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2025 |
| Arc Centre Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 351 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 August 2025 |
| Baxter Storey Other catering premises | 362 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Angies Bistro Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2025 |
| @covent Garden Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2024 |
| Admiral Casino Mobile caterer | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2020 |
| Bird And Bag Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
Questions about W.H. Smith
What is W.H. Smith's food hygiene rating?
W.H. Smith has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Stockport Council on 23 January 2018.
Is W.H. Smith 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 W.H. Smith last inspected?
W.H. Smith was last inspected on 23 January 2018, more than 8 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stockport Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at W.H. Smith?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does W.H. Smith compare to other places in Stockport?
82% of the 2,109 rated food businesses in Stockport hold the top rating of 5, while W.H. Smith holds a 4. 252 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Stockport Council inspects W.H. Smith 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 W.H. Smith and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Stockport inspects and rates 2,746 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stockport →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stockport.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 →