Blacksmiths Arms food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Forest of Dean
Blacksmiths Arms holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 22 September 2023, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Main Road, Alvington, Lydney, GL15 6AU
How it compares in Forest of Dean
That puts Blacksmiths Arms among the 651 places in Forest of Dean holding top marks, 95% 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 | 651 | 95% | ← Blacksmiths Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 31 | 5% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 115 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling 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 Blacksmiths Arms 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 Blacksmiths Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Globe Inn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 180 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2024 |
| Garlands Gifts Retailers - other | 329 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Alvington Service Station Retailers - other | 361 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2025 |
| Swan House Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2024 |
| Caterlink Limited At Woolaston Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2024 |
| Court Farm Lakes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 January 2024 |
| Netherend Stores Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2024 |
| Netherend Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 10 December 2018 |
Questions about Blacksmiths Arms
What is Blacksmiths Arms's food hygiene rating?
Blacksmiths Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Forest of Dean Council on 22 September 2023.
Is Blacksmiths Arms 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Blacksmiths Arms last inspected?
Blacksmiths Arms was last inspected on 22 September 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Forest of Dean Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Blacksmiths Arms?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Blacksmiths Arms compare to other places in Forest of Dean?
95% of the 687 rated food businesses in Forest of Dean hold the top rating of 5, and Blacksmiths Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Forest of Dean Council inspects Blacksmiths Arms 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 Blacksmiths Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Blacksmiths Arms is one of 32 rated food businesses in Glos. See every hygiene rating in Glos →
Forest of Dean inspects and rates 802 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Forest of Dean →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.fdean.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 →