Little China food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · East Devon
Little China holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 5 June 2025, 13 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: The Arch, Woodbury, Exeter, EX5 1LL
How it compares in East Devon
A 2 is rare: only 14 of 1,303 rated places in East Devon score this low, about one in 93. 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 | 1,093 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 125 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 58 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ← Little China | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Little China the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Little China, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maltsters Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Christchurch Woodbury Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2025 |
| Castle Brake Holiday Park Shop Retailers - other | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 October 2020 |
| Castle Inn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| The Diggers Rest Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| Toby Carvery Lympstone Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2025 |
| Powderkeg Brewery Ltd Manufacturers/packers | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 August 2021 |
| St Peters School School/college/university | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 May 2026 |
Questions about Little China
What is Little China's food hygiene rating?
Little China has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by East Devon Council on 5 June 2025.
Is Little China safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Little China last inspected?
Little China was last inspected on 5 June 2025, 13 months 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 Little China?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Little China compare to other places in East Devon?
84% of the 1,303 rated food businesses in East Devon hold the top rating of 5, while Little China holds a 2. 14 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Devon Council inspects Little China 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 Little China 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 2 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 East 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: East Devon
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Little China is one of 153 rated food businesses in Exeter. See every hygiene rating in Exeter →
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 →