The Spinney Country Guest House food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · North Devon
The Spinney Country Guest House holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the hotel met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 11 November 2022, more than 3 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: The Spinney, Shirwell, Barnstaple, EX31 4JR
How it compares in North Devon
That puts The Spinney Country Guest House among the 1,107 places in North Devon 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 | 1,107 | 84% | ← The Spinney Country Guest House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 129 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 150 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 The Spinney Country Guest House 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 Spinney Country Guest House, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirwell Community Primary School School/college/university | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Bulldog Fish Farm Manufacturers/packers | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2025 |
| Yeotown Retailers - other | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2017 |
| Chelfham House Residential Home Caring Premises | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2026 |
| West Plaistow Retailers - other | 1.7 miles away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 6 February 2025 |
| The Muddiford Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 26 March 2025 |
| Goodleigh C Of E Primary School School/college/university | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2026 |
| New Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2023 |
Questions about The Spinney Country Guest House
What is The Spinney Country Guest House's food hygiene rating?
The Spinney Country Guest House has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 11 November 2022.
Is The Spinney Country Guest House 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 hotel to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Spinney Country Guest House last inspected?
The Spinney Country Guest House was last inspected on 11 November 2022, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Devon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Spinney Country Guest House?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 The Spinney Country Guest House compare to other places in North Devon?
84% of the 1,317 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, and The Spinney Country Guest House is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects The Spinney Country Guest House 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 Spinney Country Guest House and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Spinney Country Guest House is one of 413 rated food businesses in Barnstaple. See every hygiene rating in Barnstaple →
North Devon inspects and rates 1,467 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Devon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northdevon.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 →