The Compass Bar food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Isle of Wight
The Compass Bar 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 5 September 2024, 22 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 10 - 11 High Street, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7RZ
How it compares in Isle of Wight
That puts The Compass Bar 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 Compass Bar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Compass Bar 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 Compass Bar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Thompson Store Retailers - other | 12 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
| Costa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2026 |
| Marsek's Coffee House Other catering premises | 38 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2026 |
| Sainsbury's Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 42 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| J&B's Retailers - other | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2024 |
| Moocow Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2024 |
| Painters Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 62 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Baked By Jen Retailers - other | 63 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2025 |
Questions about The Compass Bar
What is The Compass Bar's food hygiene rating?
The Compass Bar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Isle of Wight Council on 5 September 2024.
Is The Compass Bar 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 Compass Bar last inspected?
The Compass Bar was last inspected on 5 September 2024, 22 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 Compass Bar?
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 Compass Bar 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 Compass Bar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Isle of Wight Council inspects The Compass Bar 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 Compass Bar 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 Compass Bar is one of 139 rated food businesses in Cowes. See every hygiene rating in 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 →