The Imperial food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Exeter City
The Imperial holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: The Imperial was inspected on 2 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: New North Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4AH
How it compares in Exeter City
That puts The Imperial 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% | ← The Imperial | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Imperial 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 Imperial, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Local Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 305 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2023 |
| Bendene Town House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 August 2023 |
| Beijing Beijing Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Co-op (7831) Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2025 |
| Clock Tower Fish & Chips Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2025 |
| Camper Coffee Company Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2025 |
| Central Store Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2025 |
| Big Bakes Bakery Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2022 |
Questions about The Imperial
What is The Imperial's food hygiene rating?
The Imperial has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Exeter City Council on 2 June 2026.
Is The Imperial 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Imperial last inspected?
The Imperial was last inspected on 2 June 2026, a month 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 The Imperial?
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 The Imperial compare to other places in Exeter City?
87% of the 999 rated food businesses in Exeter City hold the top rating of 5, and The Imperial is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Exeter City Council inspects The Imperial 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 Imperial and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →