The Novel Tea Nook food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Mid Devon
The Novel Tea Nook 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 19 January 2026, 5 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: 1 Exeter Hill, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1DJ
How it compares in Mid Devon
That puts The Novel Tea Nook among the 592 places in Mid Devon holding top marks, 86% 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 | 592 | 86% | ← The Novel Tea Nook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 50 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 30 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 86 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 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 The Novel Tea Nook 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 The Novel Tea Nook, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong's Take Away Takeaway/sandwich shop | 48 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 23 June 2025 |
| The Pony & Trap Pub/bar/nightclub | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2023 |
| Home Bargains Retailers - other | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 March 2019 |
| Lord Fudgies Fudge and Little Cully Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 May 2024 |
| Cakes & Bakes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 101 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Aldi Stores Limited Retailers - other | 109 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2025 |
| Cullompton Charcoal Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 144 yards away | 4 - Good | 16 February 2026 |
| Golden Eagle Takeaway/sandwich shop | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
Questions about The Novel Tea Nook
What is The Novel Tea Nook's food hygiene rating?
The Novel Tea Nook has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Devon Council on 19 January 2026.
Is The Novel Tea Nook 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 The Novel Tea Nook last inspected?
The Novel Tea Nook was last inspected on 19 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Devon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Novel Tea Nook?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 The Novel Tea Nook compare to other places in Mid Devon?
86% of the 692 rated food businesses in Mid Devon hold the top rating of 5, and The Novel Tea Nook is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Devon Council inspects The Novel Tea Nook 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 Novel Tea Nook and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Novel Tea Nook is one of 118 rated food businesses in Cullompton. See every hygiene rating in Cullompton →
Mid Devon inspects and rates 778 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Devon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.middevon.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 →