5

Spar food hygiene rating

Retailers - other · Ribble Valley

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 24 September 2019, more than 6 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: 9 George Street, Whalley, BB7 9TH

How it compares in Ribble Valley

That puts Spar among the 501 places in Ribble Valley holding top marks, 87% 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.

Every rated food business in Ribble Valley
5 out of 5 501 87% ← Spar
4 out of 5 55 10%
3 out of 5 11 2%
2 out of 5 5 1%
1 out of 5 2 <1%
0 out of 5 0 0%

A further 76 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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
Deux Amis Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 26 yards away 5 - Very good 26 March 2026
CJ's Takeaway/sandwich shop 88 yards away 5 - Very good 6 March 2026
King Street Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 88 yards away 5 - Very good 29 November 2024
Holdens and Co Retailers - other 150 yards away 5 - Very good 24 January 2024
Giardino Segreto Pub/bar/nightclub 155 yards away 5 - Very good 3 October 2024
Delicio Whalley Retailers - other 161 yards away 5 - Very good 5 September 2025
Amico Mio Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 199 yards away 5 - Very good 27 February 2025
De Lacy Arms Pub/bar/nightclub 199 yards away 5 - Very good 5 October 2023

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 Ribble Valley Council on 24 September 2019.

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 24 September 2019, more than 6 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Ribble Valley Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at Spar?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Spar compare to other places in Ribble Valley?

87% of the 574 rated food businesses in Ribble Valley hold the top rating of 5, and Spar is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Ribble Valley 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 307 rated food businesses in Clitheroe. See every hygiene rating in Clitheroe

Ribble Valley inspects and rates 650 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Ribble Valley

The official record is held by the council: http://www.ribblevalley.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 →