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 3 July 2015, more than 11 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: Spar Stores And Post Office, 1 Bay View Road, East Looe, PL13 1JN
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looe Primary Academy School/college/university | 294 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2025 |
| Barbican Bakery Retailers - other | 307 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Ocean Dragon Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 337 yards away | 4 - Good | 1 October 2025 |
| La Piccola Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 426 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2025 |
| Bridge Grill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 427 yards away | 4 - Good | 25 November 2024 |
| Black Swan Pub/bar/nightclub | 438 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2025 |
| Charlie's Retailers - other | 438 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
| Looe Bakery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 438 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2025 |
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 3 July 2015.
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 3 July 2015, more than 11 years 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 142 rated food businesses in Looe. See every hygiene rating in Looe →
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 →