The White Hart food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · South Hams
The White Hart holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This rating dates from 20 November 2025, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: White Hart Hotel, Church Street, Modbury, PL21 0QW
How it compares in South Hams
A 1 is rare: only 7 of 854 rated places in South Hams score this low, about one in 122. By contrast 91% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 774 | 91% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 56 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ← The White Hart | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 253 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 Good
- 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 White Hart the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled 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 White Hart, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modbury Preschool School/college/university | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2024 |
| School's out @ Modbury School/college/university | 152 yards away | 4 - Good | 9 October 2024 |
| Modbury Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 311 yards away | Exempt | |
| Aune Valley Meat Ltd Retailers - other | 311 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2024 |
| Exeter Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 315 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 25 March 2025 |
| Mackgills Delicatessen Retailers - other | 329 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
| Modbury Chinese takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 344 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 23 July 2025 |
| The Curator Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 349 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
Questions about The White Hart
What is The White Hart's food hygiene rating?
The White Hart has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by South Hams Council on 20 November 2025.
Is The White Hart safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub 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 The White Hart last inspected?
The White Hart was last inspected on 20 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Hams Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The White Hart?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", 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 White Hart compare to other places in South Hams?
91% of the 854 rated food businesses in South Hams hold the top rating of 5, while The White Hart holds a 1. 7 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
South Hams Council inspects The White Hart 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 White Hart 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 1 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 South Hams, 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: South Hams
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The White Hart is one of 22 rated food businesses in Modbury. See every hygiene rating in Modbury →
South Hams inspects and rates 1,107 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Hams →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southhams.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 →