Spar food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · St Helens
Spar holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 3 October 2023, more than 2 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: Spar, 1 Rainford Road, Billinge, WN5 7PF
How it compares in St Helens
That puts Spar among the 911 places in St Helens holding top marks, 72% 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 | 911 | 72% | ← Spar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 200 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 105 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 34 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 93 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 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billinge Chapel End Labour Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 29 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2024 |
| Billinge Newsagents Ltd Retailers - other | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2026 |
| Birchley St Mary's Catholic Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 140 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 September 2023 |
| Billinge Chapel End Primary School School/college/university | 235 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2024 |
| Birchley St Mary's Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2024 |
| Billinge St Aidans C of E Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
| Aidan's Pantry Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2023 |
| Billinge Bakehouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
Questions about Spar
What is Spar's food hygiene rating?
Spar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by St Helens Council on 3 October 2023.
Is Spar 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Spar last inspected?
Spar was last inspected on 3 October 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by St Helens 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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Spar compare to other places in St Helens?
72% of the 1,274 rated food businesses in St Helens hold the top rating of 5, and Spar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
St Helens 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.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Spar is one of 28 rated food businesses in Billinge. See every hygiene rating in Billinge →
St Helens inspects and rates 1,367 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in St Helens →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sthelens.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 →