The Volunteer Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Devon
The Volunteer Inn 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
The rating dates from 16 September 2021, more than 4 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 52 Temple Street, Sidmouth, EX10 9BQ
How it compares in East Devon
That puts The Volunteer Inn among the 1,093 places in East 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 | 1,093 | 84% | ← The Volunteer Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 125 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 58 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 248 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 The Volunteer Inn 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 Volunteer Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groveside Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 243 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Lynstead House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 244 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2025 |
| Sidmouth Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 253 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Culver House Abbeyfield Other catering premises | 350 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2025 |
| Devon Norse Ltd (Sidmouth Primary - Vicarge Rd) School/college/university | 388 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 September 2024 |
| Hunters Moon Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 406 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2026 |
| Sidmouth Nursing Home Ltd Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2026 |
| Radway Lodge Partnership Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2025 |
Questions about The Volunteer Inn
What is The Volunteer Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Volunteer Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Devon Council on 16 September 2021.
Is The Volunteer Inn 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 Volunteer Inn last inspected?
The Volunteer Inn was last inspected on 16 September 2021, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Devon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Volunteer Inn?
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 The Volunteer Inn compare to other places in East Devon?
84% of the 1,303 rated food businesses in East Devon hold the top rating of 5, and The Volunteer Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Devon Council inspects The Volunteer Inn 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 Volunteer Inn 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 Volunteer Inn is one of 171 rated food businesses in Sidmouth. See every hygiene rating in Sidmouth →
East Devon inspects and rates 1,551 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Devon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastdevon.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 →