Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · North Devon
Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden 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 20 February 2026, 4 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: 3 St James Place, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9BH
How it compares in North Devon
That puts Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden among the 1,107 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 | 1,107 | 84% | ← Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 129 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 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 Very 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 Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden 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 Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Cove B&B & Nicki's Ice Crm Plr Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2024 |
| Curiosity Cottage Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2025 |
| Fudgies Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 2 September 2024 |
| No. 28 The Cookery Ltd Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2026 |
| Belle's Place Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 69 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 September 2017 |
| Ilfracombe And North Devon Sub Aqua Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2008 |
| Olive and Rose Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 110 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2025 |
| The Antidote Wine Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 110 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2024 |
Questions about Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden
What is Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden's food hygiene rating?
Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 20 February 2026.
Is Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden 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 Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden last inspected?
Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden was last inspected on 20 February 2026, 4 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 Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden compare to other places in North Devon?
84% of the 1,317 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, and Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden 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 Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Blacksands Kitchen, Bar and Garden 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 →