Barbican Bao food hygiene rating
Mobile caterer · Plymouth City
Barbican Bao holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the mobile caterer met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 31 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: 42 Princess Avenue, Plymstock, PL9 9EP
How it compares in Plymouth City
That puts Barbican Bao among the 1,270 places in Plymouth City holding top marks, 78% 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 | 1,270 | 78% | ← Barbican Bao | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 198 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 97 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 34 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | 1% |
A further 153 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 Barbican Bao 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 Barbican Bao, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bambinos Caring Premises | 287 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 July 2025 |
| Ben’s Takeaway/sandwich shop | 334 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
| Cardbar/Thorntons Retailers - other | 351 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2023 |
| Blitz Coffee Shop and Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 424 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2025 |
| Broadlands Community Centre Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2026 |
| Aspens Services Ltd at Oreston Primary School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2025 |
| Asda Express Plymouth – Wembury Road PFS Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
| Cafe 89 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2023 |
Questions about Barbican Bao
What is Barbican Bao's food hygiene rating?
Barbican Bao has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Plymouth City Council on 31 May 2024.
Is Barbican Bao 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 mobile caterer to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Barbican Bao last inspected?
Barbican Bao was last inspected on 31 May 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Plymouth City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Barbican Bao?
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 Barbican Bao compare to other places in Plymouth City?
78% of the 1,630 rated food businesses in Plymouth City hold the top rating of 5, and Barbican Bao is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Plymouth City Council inspects Barbican Bao 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 Barbican Bao and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Plymouth City inspects and rates 1,783 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Plymouth City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.plymouth.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 →