Red Cow Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Merthyr Tydfil
Red Cow Inn 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 14 March 2025, 16 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Red Cow Inn, Pontsticill, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 2UN
How it compares in Merthyr Tydfil
That puts Red Cow Inn among the 317 places in Merthyr Tydfil holding top marks, 59% 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 | 317 | 59% | ← Red Cow Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 141 | 26% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 69 | 13% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 52 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 Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 Red Cow Inn 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 Red Cow Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brecon Mountain Railway Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 230 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 March 2026 |
| Pontsticill Station Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 230 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Paula Davies Catering Ltd Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
| Quarrymans Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2026 |
| Kam Wah Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 14 February 2025 |
| Bobl Bach Pre-School School/college/university | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2025 |
| Little Learners - Pantysgallog Ltd Caring Premises | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 December 2023 |
| Pant Primary School School/college/university | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2025 |
Questions about Red Cow Inn
What is Red Cow Inn's food hygiene rating?
Red Cow Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Merthyr Tydfil Council on 14 March 2025.
Is Red Cow Inn 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 Red Cow Inn last inspected?
Red Cow Inn was last inspected on 14 March 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Merthyr Tydfil Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Red Cow Inn?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Red Cow Inn compare to other places in Merthyr Tydfil?
59% of the 539 rated food businesses in Merthyr Tydfil hold the top rating of 5, and Red Cow Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Merthyr Tydfil Council inspects Red Cow Inn 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 Red Cow Inn 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
Merthyr Tydfil inspects and rates 591 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Merthyr Tydfil →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.merthyr.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 →