The Forge food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Winchester City
The Forge holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 13 February 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: The Old Forge Inn, Winchester Road, Shedfield, SO32 2HS
How it compares in Winchester City
In Winchester City, 89% of rated places manage a 5, so The Forge sits behind roughly 966 nearby businesses. 8% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 966 | 89% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 91 | 8% | ← The Forge | |
| 3 out of 5 | 20 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 85 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 Generally satisfactory
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 Forge 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 Forge, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John The Baptist C Of E Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 September 2025 |
| Ria's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| The Black Dog Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2025 |
| Samuels Rest Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Shedfield Lodge Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Meon Valley Hotel, Spa And Golf Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2026 |
| Pig In A Bun Mobile caterer | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| Bark 'n' Brew Mobile caterer | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2025 |
Questions about The Forge
What is The Forge's food hygiene rating?
The Forge has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Winchester City Council on 13 February 2025.
Is The Forge safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Forge last inspected?
The Forge was last inspected on 13 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Winchester City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Forge?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Forge compare to other places in Winchester City?
89% of the 1,084 rated food businesses in Winchester City hold the top rating of 5, while The Forge holds a 4. 91 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Winchester City Council inspects The Forge 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 Forge 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 Forge is one of 17 rated food businesses in Shedfield. See every hygiene rating in Shedfield →
Winchester City inspects and rates 1,169 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Winchester City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.winchester.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 →