The Smugglers Rest food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Devon
The Smugglers Rest holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 11 March 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: North Morte Road, Mortehoe, Woolacombe, EX34 7DR
How it compares in North Devon
That puts The Smugglers Rest 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% | ← The Smugglers Rest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 The Smugglers Rest 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 The Smugglers Rest, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortehoe Post Office Retailers - other | 2 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 September 2016 |
| Mortehoe Village Stores Retailers - other | 2 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2024 |
| Town Farmhouse Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 61 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 November 2022 |
| MorShellfish-T-Eat Takeaway/sandwich shop | 78 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2019 |
| The Ship Aground Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 109 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 May 2025 |
| Rockleigh House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 115 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2024 |
| Chichester Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 155 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2024 |
| North Morte Farm Store Retailers - other | 343 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2024 |
Questions about The Smugglers Rest
What is The Smugglers Rest's food hygiene rating?
The Smugglers Rest has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Devon Council on 11 March 2024.
Is The Smugglers Rest 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Smugglers Rest last inspected?
The Smugglers Rest was last inspected on 11 March 2024, more than 2 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 The Smugglers Rest?
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 The Smugglers Rest 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 The Smugglers Rest is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Devon Council inspects The Smugglers Rest 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 The Smugglers Rest and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Smugglers Rest is one of 60 rated food businesses in Woolacombe. See every hygiene rating in Woolacombe →
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 →