Joiners Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Torridge
Joiners Arms holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 5 July 2024, more than 2 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: 6 Market Place, Bideford, Devon, EX39 2DR
How it compares in Torridge
In Torridge, 86% of rated places manage a 5, so Joiners Arms sits behind roughly 640 nearby businesses. 4% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 581 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 59 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 4% | ← Joiners Arms | |
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 94 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 Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Joiners Arms 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 Joiners Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devonshire Cork & Vine Retailers - other | 10 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2025 |
| Jack In The Box Catering Takeaway/sandwich shop | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2025 |
| Chef Duet Catering Co. Other catering premises | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2025 |
| By The Ford Butchers And Deli Retailers - other | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Deluxe Steak House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2026 |
| Gurkha Bideford Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2024 |
| Deanies Delights Retailers - other | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
| Aroma Rock Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 166 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2026 |
Questions about Joiners Arms
What is Joiners Arms's food hygiene rating?
Joiners Arms has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Torridge Council on 5 July 2024.
Is Joiners Arms safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Joiners Arms last inspected?
Joiners Arms was last inspected on 5 July 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Torridge Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Joiners Arms?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Joiners Arms compare to other places in Torridge?
86% of the 679 rated food businesses in Torridge hold the top rating of 5, while Joiners Arms holds a 3. 24 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Torridge Council inspects Joiners Arms 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 Joiners Arms 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
Joiners Arms is one of 299 rated food businesses in Bideford. See every hygiene rating in Bideford →
Torridge inspects and rates 773 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Torridge →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.torridge.gov.uk/food
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 →