Five Exeter businesses given one star food hygiene rating this year

Five businesses in Exeter are the latest to receive one of the lowest food hygiene ratings by the Food Standards Agency.

Restaurants, schools, care homes, and community venues are all businesses that must comply with food hygiene laws.

Food safety officers inspect these businesses regularly to ensure they are following good hygiene practices. During an inspection, they will check how staff prepare and store food, how clean the facilities are, and how the business manages food safety.

The Food Standards Agency then rates businesses from zero to five - with zero being “urgent improvement necessary” and one meaning “major improvement necessary”.

It is important to remember that ratings do not take into account food quality, customer service, or culinary skill.

Here are the latest five to receive a one star rating:

• The Ridge Coffee Shop on Haven Road received a rating of one following an inspection on October 5, 2026, with “improvement necessary” on the cafe’s food handling standards and building cleanliness and condition.
• Castle Street Sports and Entertainment on Little Castle Street was awarded a one star hygiene rating on July 24, 2026.
• Clifton Inn on Clifton Road received a one star rating after an inspection on March 20, 2026. A food safety officer found the business had “very good” food handling standards but its management of food safety needed “major improvement”.
• The Dragon’s Den on Sidwell Street was awarded a food hygiene rating of one at an inspection on February 4, 2026.
• Central Convenience Stores on Birchy Barton Hill received a one star rating following an inspection on January 22, 2026. The store was found to have “generally satisfactory” hygienic food handling standards but its management of food safety needed “major improvement”.