Spar food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · South Cambridgeshire
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 23 February 2021, more than 5 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: 52 High Street, Sawston, CB22 3BG
How it compares in South Cambridgeshire
In South Cambridgeshire, 87% of rated places manage a 5, so Spar sits behind roughly 1,062 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,062 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 122 | 10% | ← Spar | |
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 95 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sawston Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 28 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2026 |
| Breakfast Voyage Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 33 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| B Searle & Sons Retailers - other | 35 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Green Weigh Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 41 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Sweet Tea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2024 |
| Oxfam Sawston Retailers - other | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 October 2023 |
| Jade Fountain Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 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 South Cambridgeshire Council on 23 February 2021.
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 23 February 2021, more than 5 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Cambridgeshire 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 South Cambridgeshire?
87% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in South Cambridgeshire hold the top rating of 5, while Spar holds a 4. 122 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Cambridgeshire 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 41 rated food businesses in Sawston. See every hygiene rating in Sawston →
South Cambridgeshire inspects and rates 1,316 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Cambridgeshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.scambs.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 →