Hele Bay Service Station food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · North Devon
Hele Bay Service Station 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 13 January 2026, 7 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.
94% of rated food businesses in North Devon score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all North Devon ratings →
Address: Watermouth Road, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9QY
How this rating has changed
Hele Bay Service Station has improved: it was rated 2 before its inspection on 13 January 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 13 January 2026 | 2 5 | Improved |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in North Devon
That puts Hele Bay Service Station among the 1,105 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.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,105 | 84% | ← Hele Bay Service Station | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 136 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 44 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 162 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 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 Hele Bay Service Station 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 Hele Bay Service Station, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hele Cornmill And Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2023 |
| Blackingstone Ltd Distributors/Transporters | 246 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2019 |
| Cork & Vine Company Retailers - other | 246 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Ilfracombe Rugby Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2012 |
| Larkstone Cafe Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2024 |
| Comyn Farm Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2025 |
| Joey's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| 11, The Quay Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2024 |
Questions about Hele Bay Service Station
What is Hele Bay Service Station's food hygiene rating?
Hele Bay Service Station has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 13 January 2026.
Is Hele Bay Service Station 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 Hele Bay Service Station last inspected?
Hele Bay Service Station was last inspected on 13 January 2026, 7 months 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 Hele Bay Service Station?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Hele Bay Service Station compare to other places in North Devon?
84% of the 1,320 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, and Hele Bay Service Station is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects Hele Bay Service Station 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 Hele Bay Service Station 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
Hele Bay Service Station is one of 249 rated food businesses in Ilfracombe. See every hygiene rating in Ilfracombe →
North Devon inspects and rates 1,482 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 →