Withecombes food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · North Devon
Withecombes holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The shop met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 3 March 2026, 4 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 7 Joy Street, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1BP
How it compares in North Devon
In North Devon, 84% of rated places manage a 5, so Withecombes sits behind roughly 1,236 nearby businesses. 3% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,107 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 129 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ← Withecombes | |
| 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
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Withecombes 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 Withecombes, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banburys Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2024 |
| European Food Shop Retailers - other | 64 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2025 |
| Barnstaple Bakery Retailers - other | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
| Boots The Chemists Ltd Retailers - other | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 February 2008 |
| Costa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2024 |
| Barnstaple Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 95 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
| Barnstaple Town Council Community Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2023 |
| Green Lanes Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2024 |
Questions about Withecombes
What is Withecombes's food hygiene rating?
Withecombes has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by North Devon Council on 3 March 2026.
Is Withecombes safe to eat at?
A 3 means the shop met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Withecombes last inspected?
Withecombes was last inspected on 3 March 2026, 4 months 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 Withecombes?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Withecombes compare to other places in North Devon?
84% of the 1,317 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, while Withecombes holds a 3. 42 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects Withecombes 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 Withecombes and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Withecombes is one of 413 rated food businesses in Barnstaple. See every hygiene rating in Barnstaple →
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 →