Sawyers Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Exeter City
Sawyers Arms 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 12 February 2026, 5 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: 121 Cowick Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 1JD
How it compares in Exeter City
That puts Sawyers Arms 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% | ← Sawyers Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Sawyers Arms 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 Sawyers Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentic Greek Food Takeaway/sandwich shop | 260 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2024 |
| Bowhill Primary School School/college/university | 269 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2025 |
| Borderlands BBQ Mobile caterer | 346 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2025 |
| Aspens Services Ltd @ Montgomery School/college/university | 374 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 398 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2026 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2019 |
| Burger King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 November 2024 |
| Caraston Hall Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2024 |
Questions about Sawyers Arms
What is Sawyers Arms's food hygiene rating?
Sawyers Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Exeter City Council on 12 February 2026.
Is Sawyers Arms 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 Sawyers Arms last inspected?
Sawyers Arms was last inspected on 12 February 2026, 5 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 Sawyers Arms?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sawyers Arms compare to other places in Exeter City?
87% of the 999 rated food businesses in Exeter City hold the top rating of 5, and Sawyers Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Exeter City Council inspects Sawyers Arms 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 Sawyers Arms 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 →