Country Cheeses food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Exeter City
Country Cheeses 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 19 March 2025, 15 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: 26 Fore Street, Topsham, Devon, EX3 0HD
How it compares in Exeter City
That puts Country Cheeses among the 870 places in Exeter City holding top marks, 87% 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 | 870 | 87% | ← Country Cheeses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 88 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 30 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 111 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 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 Country Cheeses 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 Country Cheeses, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocolato Retailers - other | 27 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2025 |
| Circle Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 83 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 June 2021 |
| JAR Retailers - other | 182 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 242 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2019 |
| Good Game Manufacturers/packers | 267 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
| Bridge Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2024 |
| Beijing Topsham Fryer Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2024 |
| Denleys Essence of India Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2025 |
Questions about Country Cheeses
What is Country Cheeses's food hygiene rating?
Country Cheeses has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Exeter City Council on 19 March 2025.
Is Country Cheeses 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 Country Cheeses last inspected?
Country Cheeses was last inspected on 19 March 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Exeter City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Country Cheeses?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Country Cheeses compare to other places in Exeter City?
87% of the 999 rated food businesses in Exeter City hold the top rating of 5, and Country Cheeses is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Exeter City Council inspects Country Cheeses 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 Country Cheeses and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Country Cheeses is one of 46 rated food businesses in Topsham. See every hygiene rating in Topsham →
Exeter City inspects and rates 1,110 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Exeter City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.exeter.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 →