The Hele Bay food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Devon
The Hele Bay holds a 0, the lowest food hygiene rating possible, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The inspector found serious problems at the pub requiring immediate action.
The rating: 0 - Urgent improvement necessary
The rating dates from 26 March 2026, 3 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: 39 Beach Road, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9QZ
How it compares in North Devon
A 0 is rare: only 3 of 1,317 rated places in North Devon score this low, about one in 439. By contrast 84% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,107 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 129 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ← The Hele Bay |
A further 150 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Major improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Hele Bay the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Hele Bay, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hele Cornmill And Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 205 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2023 |
| Blackingstone Ltd Distributors/Transporters | 337 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2019 |
| Cork & Vine Company Retailers - other | 337 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Ilfracombe Rugby Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2012 |
| Larkstone Cafe Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Comyn Farm Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2025 |
| Joey's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| 11, The Quay Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2024 |
Questions about The Hele Bay
What is The Hele Bay's food hygiene rating?
The Hele Bay has a food hygiene rating of 0 out of 5 (urgent improvement necessary), given by North Devon Council on 26 March 2026.
Is The Hele Bay safe to eat at?
A 0 means urgent improvement is necessary: the inspector found serious problems. The pub may still be trading, because a rating is not a closure order, but this is the lowest score the scheme gives.
When was The Hele Bay last inspected?
The Hele Bay was last inspected on 26 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Devon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Hele Bay?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Hele Bay compare to other places in North Devon?
84% of the 1,317 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, while The Hele Bay holds a 0. 3 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects The Hele Bay 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 Hele Bay and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 0 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at North Devon, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: North Devon
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Hele Bay is one of 239 rated food businesses in Ilfracombe. See every hygiene rating in Ilfracombe →
North Devon inspects and rates 1,467 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Devon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northdevon.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 →