Spar food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · West Devon
Spar holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 4 February 2026, 5 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: 6 High Street, North Tawton, EX20 2HF
How it compares in West Devon
In West Devon, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so Spar sits behind roughly 456 nearby businesses. 13% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 456 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 71 | 13% | ← Spar | |
| 3 out of 5 | 15 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 81 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- 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 Spar 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 Spar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecomojo Cic Retailers - other | 13 yards away | 4 - Good | 4 February 2026 |
| Graylings Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 13 yards away | 4 - Good | 26 November 2025 |
| Cafe in the Square Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| Barzotelli Gelato Takeaway/sandwich shop | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 August 2025 |
| North Tawton Pharmacy Retailers - other | 90 yards away | Exempt | |
| Merry Go Round Retailers - other | 96 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 August 2023 |
| Pizza Pronto Takeaway/sandwich shop | 105 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| The Copper Key Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
Questions about Spar
What is Spar's food hygiene rating?
Spar has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by West Devon Council on 4 February 2026.
Is Spar safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Spar last inspected?
Spar was last inspected on 4 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Devon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Spar?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Spar compare to other places in West Devon?
83% of the 548 rated food businesses in West Devon hold the top rating of 5, while Spar holds a 4. 71 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Devon Council inspects Spar 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 Spar and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Spar is one of 17 rated food businesses in North Tawton. See every hygiene rating in North Tawton →
West Devon inspects and rates 629 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Devon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westdevon.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 →