5

Spar food hygiene rating

Retailers - other · North Devon

Spar 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 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: 3-4 Broad Street, South Molton, Devon, EX36 3AB

How it compares in North Devon

That puts Spar 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.

Every rated food business in North Devon
5 out of 5 1,107 84% ← Spar
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

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 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, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
George Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house 19 yards away 5 - Very good 1 February 2019
Sanders News Centre Retailers - other 19 yards away 5 - Very good 26 January 2008
Yetland Farm - The Cheese Stall at South Molton Market Retailers - other 19 yards away 5 - Very good 27 February 2025
Baker George Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 19 yards away 3 - Generally satisfactory 22 May 2025
The Market Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 39 yards away 4 - Good 19 February 2026
Bon Bons Sweets Retailers - other 43 yards away 5 - Very good 10 October 2025
Grand Barista Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 57 yards away 5 - Very good 14 March 2017
South Molton Conservative Club Pub/bar/nightclub 62 yards away 4 - Good 11 March 2004

Questions about Spar

What is Spar's food hygiene rating?

Spar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 10 October 2025.

Is Spar 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 last inspected?

Spar 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 Spar?

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 Spar 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 Spar is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

North Devon Council inspects Spar 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 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 is one of 99 rated food businesses in South Molton. See every hygiene rating in South Molton

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 →