The Spicy Mare food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · North Devon
The Spicy Mare holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 10 October 2025, 9 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 9 Queen Street, Lynton, Devon, EX35 6AA
How it compares in North Devon
That puts The Spicy Mare 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 Spicy Mare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Spicy Mare 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 Spicy Mare, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exmoor Flowers and Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 7 yards away | 4 - Good | 21 April 2026 |
| North Coast Café Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2024 |
| The Queens Pub/bar/nightclub | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2025 |
| The Vanilla Pod Coffee Bar And Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| The Old Bank Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 23 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2025 |
| Old Coach House Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 28 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
| Little Ray's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2025 |
| Horizon Coffee Company Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2024 |
Questions about The Spicy Mare
What is The Spicy Mare's food hygiene rating?
The Spicy Mare has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 10 October 2025.
Is The Spicy Mare 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Spicy Mare last inspected?
The Spicy Mare was last inspected on 10 October 2025, 9 months 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 Spicy Mare?
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 Spicy Mare 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 Spicy Mare is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects The Spicy Mare 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 Spicy Mare 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 Spicy Mare is one of 77 rated food businesses in Lynton. See every hygiene rating in Lynton →
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 →