The Dovecote food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · North Devon
The Dovecote holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 27 March 2025, 15 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: 3 Summerland Terrace, Belle Meadow Road, Barnstaple, EX32 8JL
How it compares in North Devon
That puts The Dovecote 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.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,107 | 84% | ← The Dovecote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Good
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 Dovecote 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 Dovecote, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstaple Bus Station Cafe and Takeaway Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2024 |
| Felicitys Fledglings Caring Premises | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2024 |
| Bramleys Takeaway/sandwich shop | 131 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| Barum Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 143 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2022 |
| J.J Asian Supermarket Ltd Retailers - other | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2025 |
| D (RDY) Squadron Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 190 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 May 2010 |
| Golden Lion Tap Pub/bar/nightclub | 221 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2017 |
| Imperial Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 242 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2026 |
Questions about The Dovecote
What is The Dovecote's food hygiene rating?
The Dovecote has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 27 March 2025.
Is The Dovecote 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Dovecote last inspected?
The Dovecote was last inspected on 27 March 2025, 15 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 The Dovecote?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Dovecote 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 Dovecote is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects The Dovecote 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 Dovecote 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 Dovecote 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 →