Instow Barton food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · North Devon
Instow Barton holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the hotel met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 October 2015, more than 10 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: Instow, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4LU
How it compares in North Devon
That puts Instow Barton among the 1,107 places in North Devon holding top marks, 84% 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 | 1,107 | 84% | ← Instow Barton | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 129 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 150 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 Instow Barton 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 Instow Barton, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instow Community Primary School School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2024 |
| The Glorious Oyster Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 16 May 2025 |
| The Wayfarer Inn Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 26 March 2025 |
| The Boathouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| The Instow Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| Commodore Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| Sandbanks Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 1 - Major improvement necessary | 30 July 2025 |
| Instow Parish Hall Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | Awaiting inspection |
Questions about Instow Barton
What is Instow Barton's food hygiene rating?
Instow Barton has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 16 October 2015.
Is Instow Barton 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 hotel to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Instow Barton last inspected?
Instow Barton was last inspected on 16 October 2015, more than 10 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Devon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Instow Barton?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Instow Barton compare to other places in North Devon?
84% of the 1,317 rated food businesses in North Devon hold the top rating of 5, and Instow Barton is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects Instow Barton 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 Instow Barton and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Instow Barton is one of 20 rated food businesses in Bideford. See every hygiene rating in Bideford →
North Devon inspects and rates 1,467 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Devon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northdevon.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 →