SPAR - Wessex Retail food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Torridge
SPAR - Wessex Retail 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 19 November 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Church Street, Dolton, Winkleigh, EX19 8QE
How it compares in Torridge
That puts SPAR - Wessex Retail among the 581 places in Torridge holding top marks, 86% 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 | 581 | 86% | ← SPAR - Wessex Retail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 59 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 94 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 Very 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 - Wessex Retail 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 - Wessex Retail, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak Pub/bar/nightclub | 61 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Dolton Primary School School/college/university | 68 yards away | 1 - Major improvement necessary | 20 May 2025 |
| Neals Butchers Retailers - other | 111 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| The Rams Head Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 111 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2026 |
Questions about SPAR - Wessex Retail
What is SPAR - Wessex Retail's food hygiene rating?
SPAR - Wessex Retail has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Torridge Council on 19 November 2024.
Is SPAR - Wessex Retail 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 - Wessex Retail last inspected?
SPAR - Wessex Retail was last inspected on 19 November 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Torridge Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at SPAR - Wessex Retail?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does SPAR - Wessex Retail compare to other places in Torridge?
86% of the 679 rated food businesses in Torridge hold the top rating of 5, and SPAR - Wessex Retail is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Torridge Council inspects SPAR - Wessex Retail 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 - Wessex Retail 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 - Wessex Retail is one of 25 rated food businesses in Winkleigh. See every hygiene rating in Winkleigh →
Torridge inspects and rates 773 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Torridge →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.torridge.gov.uk/food
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 →