W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Crawley
W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) 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 8 August 2023, more than 2 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: London News Company, Unit 16A 1st Hit, South Terminal Airside, RH6 0NN
How it compares in Crawley
That puts W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) among the 743 places in Crawley holding top marks, 90% 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 | 743 | 90% | ← W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 61 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 131 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 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 W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) 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 First Hit (Inside Duty Free), nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxterstorey At BA Lounges Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2024 |
| BP Gatwick South SF Connect - Wild Bean Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2024 |
| Discover London Retailers - other | 31 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
| Black Sheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2024 |
| Cafe The Hut Gatwick Ltd Other catering premises | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2025 |
| Club Aspire Lounge Other catering premises | 243 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
Questions about W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free)
What is W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free)'s food hygiene rating?
W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Crawley Council on 8 August 2023.
Is W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) 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 W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) last inspected?
W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) was last inspected on 8 August 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Crawley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free)?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) compare to other places in Crawley?
90% of the 827 rated food businesses in Crawley hold the top rating of 5, and W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Crawley Council inspects W H Smith First Hit (Inside Duty Free) 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 First Hit (Inside Duty Free) and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Crawley inspects and rates 958 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Crawley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.crawley.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 →