Food Hygiene Ratings in North Devon

1,442 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.7 out of 5. 84.2% rated "very good".

1,442
Businesses
4.7/5
Average Rating
19
Rated 0 or 1
84.2%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good84.2%1,096
Good10.2%133
Satisfactory3.1%40
Improvement Needed1.1%14
Major Improvement1.4%18
Urgent Improvement0.1%1

Business types

Retailers - other37025.7%
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen32822.7%
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest ho1389.6%
Mobile caterer1178.1%
Pub/bar/nightclub1137.8%
Other catering premises835.8%
Takeaway/sandwich shop704.9%
School/college/university654.5%

Food hygiene ratings in North Devon 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.

North Devon currently has 1,442 registered food businesses. Of these, 1,302 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 84.2% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.7 out of 5. There are currently 19 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
Reed's ButchersEX33 2AA0Sep 24, 2025
Alban House Residential Care HomeEX34 9JU1Sep 26, 2025
Bamboo PalaceEX34 9BJ1Feb 12, 2026
Barnstaple And North Devon Liberal ClubEX31 1BA1Aug 22, 2024
Bengal TigerEX36 4AW1Aug 04, 2025
Butcher BrownEX361Jul 21, 2025
Chulmleigh Kebab HouseEX18 7BR1Dec 02, 2025
Harbour CaféEX34 0AN1Nov 21, 2025
Heddens of WoodtownEX31 4BW1Oct 24, 2025
JJJ Service StationEX34 9NH1Jun 12, 2025
Old Station House InnEX31 4NW1Feb 09, 2026
Power KitchenEX32 8HJ1Feb 05, 2026
Restaurant RokuEX33 1LZ1Nov 20, 2025
Sandbanks CafeEX31 3UH1Jul 30, 2025
Sidemoor DinerEX36 4RZ1May 20, 2025

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in North Devon have a 5 rating?+

There are currently 1,096 food businesses in North Devon with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 84.2% 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 North Devon?+

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 North Devon?+

Inspection frequency in North Devon 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