Hele Bay Service Station food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · North Devon
Hele Bay Service Station holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the shop that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 13 January 2026, 6 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: Watermouth Road, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9QY
How it compares in North Devon
A 2 is rare: only 15 of 1,317 rated places in North Devon score this low, about one in 88. By contrast 84% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,107 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 129 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ← Hele Bay Service Station | |
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 150 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 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 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by North Devon Council on 13 January 2026.
Is Hele Bay Service Station safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop 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 Hele Bay Service Station last inspected?
Hele Bay Service Station was last inspected on 13 January 2026, 6 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 "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". 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 1,317 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, while Hele Bay Service Station holds a 2. 15 places in the area share that rating.
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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 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 North Devon, 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: North Devon
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Hele Bay Service Station is one of 239 rated food businesses in Ilfracombe. See every hygiene rating in Ilfracombe →
North Devon inspects and rates 1,467 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 →