Spar Store food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Northumberland
Spar Store 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 9 May 2023, more than 3 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 19 Brierley Road, Cowpen, Blyth, NE24 5PP
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts Spar Store among the 2,779 places in Northumberland holding top marks, 90% 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 | 2,779 | 90% | ← Spar Store | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 397 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 Spar Store 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 Spar Store, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blyth West Family Hub Caring Premises | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2024 |
| Best One Retailers - other | 430 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2026 |
| Briardale House Other catering premises | 436 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Bobbys Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Bastion Coffee Ltd Manufacturers/packers | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2023 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2026 |
| Blyth Academy School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2025 |
| Blythgate Manor Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
Questions about Spar Store
What is Spar Store's food hygiene rating?
Spar Store has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 9 May 2023.
Is Spar Store 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 Spar Store last inspected?
Spar Store was last inspected on 9 May 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Northumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Spar Store?
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 Spar Store compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,077 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and Spar Store is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects Spar Store 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 Spar Store 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
Spar Store is one of 284 rated food businesses in Blyth. See every hygiene rating in Blyth →
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,474 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Northumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northumberland.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 →