Boots food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Bedford
Boots 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 11 August 2017, 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: Boots Harpur Centre, Bedford, MK40 1TN
How it compares in Bedford
That puts Boots among the 1,208 places in Bedford holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,208 | 83% | ← Boots | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 164 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 72 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 190 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 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 Boots 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 Boots, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2025 |
| Bedford Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 146 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2024 |
| Arcadia Retailers - other | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2023 |
| Broadway Food Centre Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 164 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Astons Pub/bar/nightclub | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2021 |
| Chicken Master Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| Caffe Crema Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2026 |
| BB Tea Takeaway/sandwich shop | 208 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2019 |
Questions about Boots
What is Boots's food hygiene rating?
Boots has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bedford Council on 11 August 2017.
Is Boots 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 Boots last inspected?
Boots was last inspected on 11 August 2017, more than 8 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bedford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Boots?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Boots compare to other places in Bedford?
83% of the 1,460 rated food businesses in Bedford hold the top rating of 5, and Boots is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bedford Council inspects Boots 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 Boots and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bedford inspects and rates 1,650 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bedford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bedford.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 →