Spar food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Cardiff
Spar holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 24 June 2014, more than 12 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: 31 St Mary Street, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 1AB
How it compares in Cardiff
In Cardiff, 70% of rated places manage a 5, so Spar sits behind roughly 2,114 nearby businesses. 18% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,114 | 70% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 560 | 18% | ← Spar | |
| 3 out of 5 | 258 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 45 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 49 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 8 | <1% |
A further 401 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beanfreaks Ltd Retailers - other | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2021 |
| Alcotraz Other catering premises | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2024 |
| Blacksheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| BBQ Xiang Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Bill's Restaurants Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 169 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2025 |
| Black Sheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 184 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2024 |
| Anand George’s Indian Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 195 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
| Bao Selecta Other catering premises | 195 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
Questions about Spar
What is Spar's food hygiene rating?
Spar has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Cardiff Council on 24 June 2014.
Is Spar safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Spar last inspected?
Spar was last inspected on 24 June 2014, more than 12 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cardiff Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Spar?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Spar compare to other places in Cardiff?
70% of the 3,034 rated food businesses in Cardiff hold the top rating of 5, while Spar holds a 4. 560 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Cardiff 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 626 rated food businesses in Cathays. See every hygiene rating in Cathays →
Cardiff inspects and rates 3,435 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cardiff →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.srs.wales/en/Environmental-Health/Food-Hygiene-Standards/Food.aspx
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 →