Spar food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Cornwall
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 27 October 2025, 8 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: The Spar Shop, 135 Meneage Street, Helston, TR13 8RW
How it compares in Cornwall
That puts Spar among the 4,461 places in Cornwall holding top marks, 85% 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 | 4,461 | 85% | ← Spar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 522 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 212 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 42 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 38 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson's Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 164 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| Nansloe Academy Wraparound Care Caring Premises | 229 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| The Bookshop In Helston Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 December 2023 |
| Gilchrist Exotics Retailers - other | 256 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2025 |
| The Natural Store Retailers - other | 276 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2025 |
| Philps Pasties Takeaway/sandwich shop | 303 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2025 |
| Don't Forget The Hamper And Oliver's Chocolates Retailers - other | 312 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2025 |
| Pica Rico Takeaway/sandwich shop | 319 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2024 |
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 Cornwall Council on 27 October 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 27 October 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cornwall 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 Cornwall?
85% of the 5,277 rated food businesses in Cornwall hold the top rating of 5, and Spar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cornwall 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
Spar is one of 224 rated food businesses in Helston. See every hygiene rating in Helston →
Cornwall inspects and rates 5,328 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cornwall →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cornwall.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 →