Waterstones food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Torbay
Waterstones 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 12 February 2025, 17 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: Hmv 15 Union Street Torquay Torbay, TQ1 1ES
How it compares in Torbay
That puts Waterstones among the 934 places in Torbay 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 | 934 | 80% | ← Waterstones | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 144 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 39 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 361 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 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 Waterstones 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 Waterstones, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carters Abbey Stores Retailers - other | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| Boots UK Limited Retailers - other | 199 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2024 |
| Ace Pinoy and Asian Sari Sari Store Retailers - other | 274 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2024 |
| Alpine Lodge Caring Premises | 374 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2026 |
| Buzz Bingo Retailers - other | 438 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2025 |
| Blackmore, Gary Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2025 |
| Above Decks Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2023 |
| Christies Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
Questions about Waterstones
What is Waterstones's food hygiene rating?
Waterstones has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Torbay Council on 12 February 2025.
Is Waterstones 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 Waterstones last inspected?
Waterstones was last inspected on 12 February 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Torbay Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Waterstones?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Waterstones compare to other places in Torbay?
80% of the 1,161 rated food businesses in Torbay hold the top rating of 5, and Waterstones is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Torbay Council inspects Waterstones 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 Waterstones and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Torbay inspects and rates 1,522 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Torbay →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.torbay.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 →