The Loft food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · East Devon
The Loft holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 May 2024, more than 2 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: 5 Old Fore Street, Sidmouth, EX10 8LS
How it compares in East Devon
That puts The Loft 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 Loft | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very 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 Loft 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 Loft, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bagel Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 13 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Myca's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 22 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
| Coffee 1 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 26 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| The Black Horse Pub/bar/nightclub | 26 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 August 2025 |
| Anchor Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 31 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2024 |
| Morrison's Daily Retailers - other | 43 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2023 |
| Flapjackery Sidmouth Retailers - other | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2024 |
| Holland And Barrett Retailers - other | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2025 |
Questions about The Loft
What is The Loft's food hygiene rating?
The Loft has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Devon Council on 16 May 2024.
Is The Loft 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Loft last inspected?
The Loft was last inspected on 16 May 2024, more than 2 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 Loft?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Loft 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 Loft is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Devon Council inspects The Loft 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 Loft 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 Loft 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 →