Spice Merchant food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Plymouth City
Spice Merchant holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 June 2021, more than 5 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: 77 Hyde Park Road, Plymouth, PL3 4JN
How it compares in Plymouth City
That puts Spice Merchant among the 1,270 places in Plymouth City holding top marks, 78% 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 | 1,270 | 78% | ← Spice Merchant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 198 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 97 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 34 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | 1% |
A further 153 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 Spice Merchant 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 Spice Merchant, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bargain Booze Retailers - other | 375 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Asian Box Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2026 |
| Baxterstorey 5037 BBC Plymouth Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2024 |
| Ardent Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2024 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Babbage Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
| Bethany House Care home ( Plymouth ) LTD Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| 50 Degrees North Brasserie and Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
Questions about Spice Merchant
What is Spice Merchant's food hygiene rating?
Spice Merchant has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Plymouth City Council on 7 June 2021.
Is Spice Merchant 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Spice Merchant last inspected?
Spice Merchant was last inspected on 7 June 2021, more than 5 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Plymouth City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Spice Merchant?
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 Spice Merchant compare to other places in Plymouth City?
78% of the 1,630 rated food businesses in Plymouth City hold the top rating of 5, and Spice Merchant is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Plymouth City Council inspects Spice Merchant 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 Spice Merchant and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Plymouth City inspects and rates 1,783 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Plymouth City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.plymouth.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 →