The Ship And Castle food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Isle of Wight
The Ship And Castle 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 16 October 2025, 8 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: Ship And Castle, 21 Castle Street, East Cowes, PO32 6RB
How it compares in Isle of Wight
That puts The Ship And Castle among the 1,042 places in Isle of Wight holding top marks, 70% 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 | 1,042 | 70% | ← The Ship And Castle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 261 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 139 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 208 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 Ship And Castle 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 Ship And Castle, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prego Takeaway/sandwich shop | 36 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 February 2024 |
| Co-Operative Group Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| Halls Premier Retailers - other | 81 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2024 |
| The Galley Takeaway/sandwich shop | 81 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2026 |
| Island Life Brewery Retailers - other | 145 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 September 2024 |
| Ali Cat Of Cowes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 260 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Solent Cat Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 260 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Craft Catering Pub/bar/nightclub | 288 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2024 |
Questions about The Ship And Castle
What is The Ship And Castle's food hygiene rating?
The Ship And Castle has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Isle of Wight Council on 16 October 2025.
Is The Ship And Castle 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 Ship And Castle last inspected?
The Ship And Castle was last inspected on 16 October 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Isle of Wight Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ship And Castle?
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 Ship And Castle compare to other places in Isle of Wight?
70% of the 1,479 rated food businesses in Isle of Wight hold the top rating of 5, and The Ship And Castle is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Isle of Wight Council inspects The Ship And Castle 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 Ship And Castle 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 Ship And Castle is one of 43 rated food businesses in East Cowes. See every hygiene rating in East Cowes →
Isle of Wight inspects and rates 1,687 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Isle of Wight →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.iow.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/community-protection-services/
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 →