Sandy Cove Hotel food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · North Devon
Sandy Cove Hotel 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 21 July 2025, 11 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: Old Coast Road, Berrynarbor, Ilfracombe, EX34 9SR
How it compares in North Devon
That puts Sandy Cove Hotel 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% | ← Sandy Cove Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Sandy Cove Hotel 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 Sandy Cove Hotel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandaway Holiday Park Shop Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 September 2025 |
| BP Trailer Bar Mobile caterer | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 June 2026 |
| The Bent Peg Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| The Old Sawmill Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Berrynarbor Pre School Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 February 2013 |
| Poplars Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2023 |
| Channel Vista Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2023 |
| Acorns Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 July 2017 |
Questions about Sandy Cove Hotel
What is Sandy Cove Hotel's food hygiene rating?
Sandy Cove Hotel has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 21 July 2025.
Is Sandy Cove Hotel 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 Sandy Cove Hotel last inspected?
Sandy Cove Hotel was last inspected on 21 July 2025, 11 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 Sandy Cove Hotel?
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 Sandy Cove Hotel 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 Sandy Cove Hotel is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects Sandy Cove Hotel 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 Sandy Cove Hotel and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sandy Cove Hotel is one of 239 rated food businesses in Ilfracombe. See every hygiene rating in Ilfracombe →
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 →