The Hollybush food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Caerphilly
The Hollybush holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Hollybush was inspected on 29 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 4% of rated food businesses in Caerphilly score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Caerphilly ratings →
Address: Hollybush Inn, Llwyncelyn Terrace, Nelson, CF46 6HF
How this rating has changed
The Hollybush has gone backwards: it held a 3 before its inspection on 29 July 2026, and now holds a 1. A rating of 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 29 July 2026 | 3 1 | Worse |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Caerphilly
A 1 is rare: only 28 of 1,397 rated places in Caerphilly score this low, about one in 50. By contrast 63% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 881 | 63% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 306 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 149 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 32 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 28 | 2% | ← The Hollybush | |
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 160 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Hollybush the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Hollybush, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 228 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| Ladybirds Playgroup Caring Premises | 228 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2026 |
| Llanfabon Infants Canteen School/college/university | 228 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2024 |
| Lord Nelson Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Cafe Nelson Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2026 |
| Green Street Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2024 |
| Llancaeach Junior Canteen School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2025 |
Questions about The Hollybush
What is The Hollybush's food hygiene rating?
The Hollybush has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Caerphilly Council on 29 July 2026.
Is The Hollybush safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Hollybush last inspected?
The Hollybush was last inspected on 29 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Caerphilly Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Hollybush?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Hollybush compare to other places in Caerphilly?
63% of the 1,397 rated food businesses in Caerphilly hold the top rating of 5, while The Hollybush holds a 1. 28 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Caerphilly Council inspects The Hollybush 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 Hollybush 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Caerphilly, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Caerphilly
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Hollybush is one of 36 rated food businesses in Treharris. See every hygiene rating in Treharris →
Caerphilly inspects and rates 1,557 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Caerphilly →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.caerphilly.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 →