1,069 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.8 out of 5. 90.2% rated "very good".
Food hygiene ratings in South Hams 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.
South Hams currently has 1,069 registered food businesses. Of these, 847 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 90.2% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.8 out of 5. There are currently 8 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.
| Name | Address | Rating | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bridge | PL21 9AE | 1 | Aug 13, 2025 |
| Lidstones Butchers | TQ7 1PP | 1 | Oct 23, 2025 |
| Marldon Cards and News | TQ3 1NE | 1 | Aug 28, 2025 |
| Opa Greek Gyros | TQ9 | 1 | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Seeds Totnes | TQ9 5NP | 1 | Mar 26, 2025 |
| South Brent Club | TQ10 9AA | 1 | Mar 17, 2025 |
| The Good Food Shop | TQ9 5HN | 1 | Jan 16, 2025 |
| The White Hart | PL21 0QW | 1 | Nov 20, 2025 |
| California Inn | PL21 0SG | 2 | Mar 28, 2025 |
| Townstal Garage - Spar and Subway | TQ6 9LW | 2 | Aug 29, 2024 |
There are currently 764 food businesses in South Hams with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 90.2% 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.
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.
Inspection frequency in South Hams 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.