The Spice Bank food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · East Hampshire
The Spice Bank holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 August 2024, 23 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: 42 High Street Alton GU34 1BG, GU34 1BG
How it compares in East Hampshire
That puts The Spice Bank among the 803 places in East Hampshire holding top marks, 84% 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 | 803 | 84% | ← The Spice Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 120 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 88 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 The Spice Bank 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 The Spice Bank, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grape Tree Retailers - other | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2026 |
| Alton Gourmet Oriental Takeaway/sandwich shop | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2025 |
| Subway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 53 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
| Antico Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2025 |
| Caprinos Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 65 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2024 |
| Hunky Dory Play Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2022 |
| Alton Masonic Centre Pub/bar/nightclub | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
Questions about The Spice Bank
What is The Spice Bank's food hygiene rating?
The Spice Bank has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Hampshire Council on 13 August 2024.
Is The Spice Bank 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Spice Bank last inspected?
The Spice Bank was last inspected on 13 August 2024, 23 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Hampshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Spice Bank?
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 The Spice Bank compare to other places in East Hampshire?
84% of the 958 rated food businesses in East Hampshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Spice Bank is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Hampshire Council inspects The Spice Bank 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 The Spice Bank and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
East Hampshire inspects and rates 1,046 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Hampshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.easthants.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 →