The Papermakers Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Maidstone
The Papermakers Arms holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 27 October 2016, more than 9 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: 129 - 131 Upper Stone Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6HJ
How it compares in Maidstone
That puts The Papermakers Arms among the 1,136 places in Maidstone holding top marks, 82% 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 | 1,136 | 82% | ← The Papermakers Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 165 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 61 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 65 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 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 The Papermakers Arms 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 The Papermakers Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| +Lewis's Fish And Grill Chip & Wing Takeaway/sandwich shop | 155 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2025 |
| Azuro Pub/bar/nightclub | 200 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2025 |
| Busy Bees Caring Premises | 413 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| Breakfast Club At South Borough CP School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 November 2017 |
| Adventure Park (Maidstone Leisure Trust) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2023 |
| All Saints Community Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2023 |
| Buzz Bingo - Maidstone Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| B & M Retail Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2026 |
Questions about The Papermakers Arms
What is The Papermakers Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Papermakers Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Maidstone Council on 27 October 2016.
Is The Papermakers Arms 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Papermakers Arms last inspected?
The Papermakers Arms was last inspected on 27 October 2016, more than 9 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Maidstone Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Papermakers Arms?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Papermakers Arms compare to other places in Maidstone?
82% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Maidstone hold the top rating of 5, and The Papermakers Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Maidstone Council inspects The Papermakers Arms 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 The Papermakers Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Maidstone inspects and rates 1,452 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Maidstone →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.maidstone.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 →