Designs Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · South Hams
Designs Cafe holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 23 October 2025, 8 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: Dartington Cider Press Centre, Shinners Bridge, Dartington, TQ9 6TQ
How it compares in South Hams
That puts Designs Cafe among the 774 places in South Hams holding top marks, 91% 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 | 774 | 91% | ← Designs Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 56 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 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 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 Designs Cafe 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 Designs Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayards Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2025 |
| The Good Food Shop Retailers - other | 128 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2024 |
| Dartington Curry House Other catering premises | 128 yards away | 4 - Good | 28 May 2026 |
| Almond Thief Bakery Other catering premises | 284 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 February 2023 |
| Granola Fan Club Manufacturers/packers | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2025 |
| Puddavine Court Residential Care Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| White Hart Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 19 September 2025 |
| Montreal Style Bagels Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2025 |
Questions about Designs Cafe
What is Designs Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Designs Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Hams Council on 23 October 2025.
Is Designs Cafe 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Designs Cafe last inspected?
Designs Cafe was last inspected on 23 October 2025, 8 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 Designs Cafe?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Designs Cafe compare to other places in South Hams?
91% of the 854 rated food businesses in South Hams hold the top rating of 5, and Designs Cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Hams Council inspects Designs Cafe 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 Designs Cafe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Designs Cafe is one of 21 rated food businesses in Dartington. See every hygiene rating in Dartington →
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 →