Food Hygiene Ratings in Exeter City

1,084 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.8 out of 5. 86.4% rated "very good".

1,084
Businesses
4.8/5
Average Rating
9
Rated 0 or 1
86.4%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good86.4%861
Good9.4%94
Satisfactory2.9%29
Improvement Needed0.3%3
Major Improvement0.9%9
Urgent Improvement0.0%0

Business types

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen34331.6%
Retailers - other18517.1%
Pub/bar/nightclub11310.4%
Caring Premises837.7%
Takeaway/sandwich shop807.4%
Other catering premises777.1%
School/college/university524.8%
Mobile caterer454.2%

Food hygiene ratings in Exeter City are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.

Exeter City currently has 1,084 registered food businesses. Of these, 996 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 86.4% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.8 out of 5. There are currently 9 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they require urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.

If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.

Data last updated: March 14, 2026

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
Apple Blossom DeliEX4 1AS1Dec 09, 2025
Best One InternationalEX4 6RY1Jul 03, 2025
Central Convenience StoresEX1 3HE1Jan 22, 2026
Dee Yi Chinese RestaurantEX1 2LD1Nov 06, 2025
HOT SPOTEX4 6RY1Nov 10, 2025
JinLi ExeterEX4 3AT1Feb 06, 2026
No1 PolsloeEX1 2HL1Nov 13, 2025
Royal Oak InnEX4 1DY1Feb 06, 2026
The Dragon's DenEX4 6NS1Feb 04, 2026
GWRSA Exeter West Railway ClubEX4 1AA2Feb 12, 2026
StageEX2 4TA2Sep 25, 2024
Stockmans RestaurantEX2 8FD2Nov 06, 2024

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Exeter City have a 5 rating?+

There are currently 861 food businesses in Exeter City with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 86.4% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.

What does a food hygiene rating of 1 mean in Exeter City?+

A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.

How often are food businesses inspected in Exeter City?+

Inspection frequency in Exeter City depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.

Data from official government food safety agencies