Spar food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Dover
Spar 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 4 July 2025, 12 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: Ground Floor 48 - 50 London Road, Dover, CT17 0SP
How it compares in Dover
That puts Spar among the 892 places in Dover holding top marks, 82% 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 | 892 | 82% | ← Spar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 114 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 45 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 112 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 Spar 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, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Choice Takeaway/sandwich shop | 29 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 July 2024 |
| Brenda's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2025 |
| Friendly Friday Footprints @ The Beacon Other catering premises | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2025 |
| Buckland Postoffice And Stores Retailers - other | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2022 |
| Hoops Cafe & Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 202 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Admiral Harvey Pub/bar/nightclub | 226 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2023 |
| Bridge Street News Retailers - other | 228 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Dover District Working Mens Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2023 |
Questions about Spar
What is Spar's food hygiene rating?
Spar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dover Council on 4 July 2025.
Is Spar 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 last inspected?
Spar was last inspected on 4 July 2025, 12 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dover Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Spar?
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 Spar compare to other places in Dover?
82% of the 1,086 rated food businesses in Dover hold the top rating of 5, and Spar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dover Council inspects Spar 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 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
Dover inspects and rates 1,198 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dover →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.dover.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 →