Universal Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Medway
Universal Stores 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 18 December 2025, 6 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: Grain Road, Lower Stoke, Rochester, ME3 9RE
How it compares in Medway
That puts Universal Stores 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% | ← Universal Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building 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 Universal Stores 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 Universal Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay Chilli Other catering premises | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2025 |
| Rose's Tea Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
| Lower Stoke Chinese Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 156 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2024 |
| The Nags Head Pub/bar/nightclub | 156 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2024 |
| The Halt Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
| Chimnies Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 June 2026 |
Questions about Universal Stores
What is Universal Stores's food hygiene rating?
Universal Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Medway Council on 18 December 2025.
Is Universal Stores 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 Universal Stores last inspected?
Universal Stores was last inspected on 18 December 2025, 6 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 Universal Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Universal Stores compare to other places in Medway?
80% of the 1,964 rated food businesses in Medway hold the top rating of 5, and Universal Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Medway Council inspects Universal Stores 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 Universal Stores 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
Universal Stores is one of 531 rated food businesses in Rochester. See every hygiene rating in Rochester →
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 →