5

West Down food hygiene rating

Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · North Devon

West Down holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the hotel met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 24 November 2011, more than 14 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: Little Eastacombe, Atherington, Umberleigh, EX37 9HP

How it compares in North Devon

That puts West Down among the 1,107 places in North Devon holding top marks, 84% 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.

Every rated food business in North Devon
5 out of 5 1,107 84% ← West Down
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%

A further 150 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 West Down 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 West Down, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Country Ways Retailers - other 0.8 miles away 5 - Very good 28 October 2021
QW Events Limited t/a Smoke on the Waters Pit Barbecue & Smokehouse Manufacturers/packers 1.0 miles away 5 - Very good 1 May 2026
Smoke on the Waters - Mobile Mobile caterer 1.0 miles away 5 - Very good 26 February 2026
Londis - Umberleigh Retailers - other 1.2 miles away 5 - Very good 7 May 2026
The Rising Sun Pub/bar/nightclub 1.8 miles away 1 - Major improvement necessary 23 January 2026
High Bickington Community Shop Ltd Retailers - other 1.8 miles away 5 - Very good 12 March 2026
Umberleigh Village Hall Other catering premises 1.8 miles away 5 - Very good 16 August 2011
LJ's Pantry Retailers - other 1.9 miles away 3 - Generally satisfactory 10 October 2024

Questions about West Down

What is West Down's food hygiene rating?

West Down has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 24 November 2011.

Is West Down 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 hotel to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was West Down last inspected?

West Down was last inspected on 24 November 2011, more than 14 years 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 West Down?

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 West Down compare to other places in North Devon?

84% of the 1,317 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, and West Down is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

North Devon Council inspects West Down 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 West Down 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

West Down is one of 26 rated food businesses in Umberleigh. See every hygiene rating in Umberleigh

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 →