W H Smith (South) food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Cheshire East
W H Smith (South) 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 4 June 2026, 3 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.
96% of rated food businesses in Cheshire East score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Cheshire East ratings →
Address: Knutsford Motorway Service Area Southbound Northwich Road, Tabley, WA16 0TL
How it compares in Cheshire East
That puts W H Smith (South) among the 2,493 places in Cheshire East holding top marks, 89% 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 | 2,493 | 89% | ← W H Smith (South) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 196 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 75 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 319 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 W H Smith (South) 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 (South), nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP Forecourt (North) Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2026 |
| BP Forecourt (South) Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2024 |
| Burger King (North) Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2025 |
| Burger King (South) Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2024 |
| Costa Coffee (North) Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Kiosk (South) Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Greggs (Forecourt South) Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2025 |
| Greggs (South) Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
Questions about W H Smith (South)
What is W H Smith (South)'s food hygiene rating?
W H Smith (South) has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cheshire East Council on 4 June 2026.
Is W H Smith (South) 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 (South) last inspected?
W H Smith (South) was last inspected on 4 June 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cheshire East Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at W H Smith (South)?
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 W H Smith (South) compare to other places in Cheshire East?
89% of the 2,796 rated food businesses in Cheshire East hold the top rating of 5, and W H Smith (South) is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cheshire East Council inspects W H Smith (South) 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 (South) and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
W H Smith (South) is one of 16 rated food businesses in Tabley. See every hygiene rating in Tabley →
Cheshire East inspects and rates 3,115 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cheshire East →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cheshireeast.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 →