The Spotted Cow food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bristol
The Spotted Cow 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 19 August 2025, 10 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: Spotted Cow, 120 Lodge Causeway, Fishponds, BS16 3JP
How it compares in Bristol
That puts The Spotted Cow among the 2,823 places in Bristol holding top marks, 76% 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 | 2,823 | 76% | ← The Spotted Cow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 608 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 189 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 33 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | <1% |
A further 758 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 Spotted Cow 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 Spotted Cow, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 408 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2025 |
| All Saints Church Hall Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2024 |
| Artichoke Wholefoods Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 January 2024 |
| Al Hamza Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| 3 Brothers Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Aspects & Milestones Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2025 |
| Aspens Services Ltd School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2025 |
| Aspens Services Ltd School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
Questions about The Spotted Cow
What is The Spotted Cow's food hygiene rating?
The Spotted Cow has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bristol Council on 19 August 2025.
Is The Spotted Cow 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 Spotted Cow last inspected?
The Spotted Cow was last inspected on 19 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bristol Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Spotted Cow?
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 Spotted Cow compare to other places in Bristol?
76% of the 3,703 rated food businesses in Bristol hold the top rating of 5, and The Spotted Cow is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bristol Council inspects The Spotted Cow 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 Spotted Cow 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
The Spotted Cow is one of 155 rated food businesses in Fishponds. See every hygiene rating in Fishponds →
Bristol inspects and rates 4,461 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bristol →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bristol.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 →