Spar Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · West Lancashire
Spar Stores holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 December 2023, 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: 12-16 Mark Square, Tarleton, Lancashire, PR4 6TU
How it compares in West Lancashire
That puts Spar Stores among the 664 places in West Lancashire holding top marks, 80% 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 | 664 | 80% | ← Spar Stores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 99 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 55 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 99 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 Very 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 Spar Stores 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 Spar Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gigi's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
| Tarleton Village Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2025 |
| Creme De La Creme Delicatessen Retailers - other | at this address | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 13 March 2026 |
| The Village Inn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 37 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2025 |
| Boskins Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2024 |
| Co-Operative Group Food Limited Retailers - other | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2026 |
| Cock And Bottle Pub/bar/nightclub | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| S & A Johnson Retailers - other | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 March 2026 |
Questions about Spar Stores
What is Spar Stores's food hygiene rating?
Spar Stores has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Lancashire Council on 16 December 2023.
Is Spar Stores 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Spar Stores last inspected?
Spar Stores was last inspected on 16 December 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Lancashire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Spar Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Spar Stores compare to other places in West Lancashire?
80% of the 833 rated food businesses in West Lancashire hold the top rating of 5, and Spar Stores is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Lancashire Council inspects Spar Stores 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 Spar Stores 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Spar Stores is one of 42 rated food businesses in Tarleton. See every hygiene rating in Tarleton →
West Lancashire inspects and rates 932 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Lancashire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westlancs.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 →