5

The Earlsdale food hygiene rating

Retailers - other · North Devon

The Earlsdale 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 8 May 2019, more than 7 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: 51 St Brannocks Road, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 8EQ

How it compares in North Devon

That puts The Earlsdale among the 1,107 places in North Devon holding top marks, 84% 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.

Every rated food business in North Devon
5 out of 5 1,107 84% ← The Earlsdale
4 out of 5 129 10%
3 out of 5 42 3%
2 out of 5 15 1%
1 out of 5 21 2%
0 out of 5 3 <1%

A further 150 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 Earlsdale 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 Earlsdale, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Debs Little Bumblebees Caring Premises 209 yards away 5 - Very good 17 December 2019
Belmont Grange Caring Premises 353 yards away 5 - Very good 23 May 2025
Cairn House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house 423 yards away 5 - Very good 15 March 2024
Parkview Residential Home Caring Premises 428 yards away 5 - Very good 9 March 2026
Ilfracombe Cake Shed Retailers - other 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 16 June 2026
The Angel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 6 March 2008
Brunch Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 10 June 2026
Little Mama's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.4 miles away 5 - Very good 31 March 2025

Questions about The Earlsdale

What is The Earlsdale's food hygiene rating?

The Earlsdale has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 8 May 2019.

Is The Earlsdale 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 The Earlsdale last inspected?

The Earlsdale was last inspected on 8 May 2019, more than 7 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Devon Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at The Earlsdale?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does The Earlsdale compare to other places in North Devon?

84% of the 1,317 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, and The Earlsdale is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

North Devon Council inspects The Earlsdale 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 Earlsdale and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

The Earlsdale is one of 239 rated food businesses in Ilfracombe. See every hygiene rating in Ilfracombe

North Devon inspects and rates 1,467 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Devon

The official record is held by the council: http://www.northdevon.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 →