The Merchant food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cannock Chase
The Merchant 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 17 November 2025, 7 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: 9-11 Market Place, WS11 1BS
How it compares in Cannock Chase
That puts The Merchant among the 615 places in Cannock Chase holding top marks, 86% 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 | 615 | 86% | ← The Merchant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 67 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 23 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 119 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 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 Merchant 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 Merchant, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Essentials Retailers - other | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2024 |
| Cannock Mini Market Retailers - other | 80 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 October 2023 |
| Church Street Mini Market Retailers - other | 105 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2025 |
| Crusty Pizza and Grill Takeaway/sandwich shop | 106 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2026 |
| Aladdins Pizza Cannock Takeaway/sandwich shop | 132 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2025 |
| Cannock Cinema Retailers - other | 161 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| Bar Sport & Premier Suite Pub/bar/nightclub | 182 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 220 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
Questions about The Merchant
What is The Merchant's food hygiene rating?
The Merchant has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cannock Chase Council on 17 November 2025.
Is The Merchant 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 Merchant last inspected?
The Merchant was last inspected on 17 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cannock Chase Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Merchant?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Merchant compare to other places in Cannock Chase?
86% of the 716 rated food businesses in Cannock Chase hold the top rating of 5, and The Merchant is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cannock Chase Council inspects The Merchant 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 Merchant 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 Merchant is one of 235 rated food businesses in Cannock. See every hygiene rating in Cannock →
Cannock Chase inspects and rates 835 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cannock Chase →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cannockchasedc.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 →