Carol's Kitchen food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · East Devon
Carol's Kitchen holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Carol's Kitchen was inspected on 23 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 2% of rated food businesses in East Devon score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all East Devon ratings →
Address: 16B The Strand, Exmouth, EX8 1AD
How this rating has changed
Carol's Kitchen was re-inspected on 23 July 2026 and held its rating of 2.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 23 July 2026 | 2 2 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in East Devon
A 2 is rare: only 15 of 1,304 rated places in East Devon score this low, about one in 87. By contrast 85% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,104 | 85% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 121 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 51 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ← Carol's Kitchen | |
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 248 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 Carol's Kitchen the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Carol's Kitchen, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Il Sole Retailers - other | 23 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2025 |
| Bayleaf Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 45 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Capels Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2025 |
| Chicken Point Takeaway/sandwich shop | 65 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2026 |
| Curry Cottage Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2024 |
| Froth And Grind Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 133 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Jar Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 133 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 August 2025 |
Questions about Carol's Kitchen
What is Carol's Kitchen's food hygiene rating?
Carol's Kitchen has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by East Devon Council on 23 July 2026.
Is Carol's Kitchen safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Carol's Kitchen last inspected?
Carol's Kitchen was last inspected on 23 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Devon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Carol's Kitchen?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Carol's Kitchen compare to other places in East Devon?
85% of the 1,304 rated food businesses in East Devon hold the top rating of 5, while Carol's Kitchen holds a 2. 15 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Devon Council inspects Carol's Kitchen 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 Carol's Kitchen and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at East Devon, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: East Devon
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Carol's Kitchen is one of 297 rated food businesses in Exmouth. See every hygiene rating in Exmouth →
East Devon inspects and rates 1,552 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Devon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastdevon.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 →