The Smugglers food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
The Smugglers 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 8 August 2025, 11 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: 7-9 Purewell, Christchurch, BH23 1EH
How it compares in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, 88% of rated places manage a 5, so The Smugglers sits behind roughly 2,582 nearby businesses. 8% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,582 | 88% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 239 | 8% | ← The Smugglers | |
| 3 out of 5 | 87 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 567 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 The Smugglers 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 Smugglers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch Food Bank – overseen by Faithworks Distributors/Transporters | 290 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2021 |
| British Chippy Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 August 2025 |
| Clouded Leopard Gin, Priory Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| Christchurch Christian Centre Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2019 |
| Cirqle Cafe & Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Coast Coffee 74 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2026 |
| Baccello Wine & Cicchetti Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| Chicken & Blues Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
Questions about The Smugglers
What is The Smugglers's food hygiene rating?
The Smugglers has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on 8 August 2025.
Is The Smugglers 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 Smugglers last inspected?
The Smugglers was last inspected on 8 August 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Smugglers?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 The Smugglers compare to other places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
88% of the 2,942 rated food businesses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole hold the top rating of 5, while The Smugglers holds a 4. 239 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council inspects The Smugglers 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 Smugglers 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 Smugglers is one of 352 rated food businesses in Christchurch. See every hygiene rating in Christchurch →
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole inspects and rates 3,509 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bcpcouncil.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 →