The Brunel Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Rhondda Cynon Taf
The Brunel Arms holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 24 September 2025, 9 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: Station Approach, Pontyclun, CF72 9DS
How it compares in Rhondda Cynon Taf
A 2 is rare: only 26 of 1,868 rated places in Rhondda Cynon Taf score this low, about one in 72. By contrast 67% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,250 | 67% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 392 | 21% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 174 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 26 | 1% | ← The Brunel Arms | |
| 1 out of 5 | 26 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 155 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Brunel Arms the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Brunel Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brothers Contemporary Indian Cuisine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 167 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2025 |
| Big Sams Takeaway/sandwich shop | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 November 2025 |
| Co-operative Group Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 192 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2024 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 192 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 244 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 August 2025 |
| Fullbrook's Bistro Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 244 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Bottle & Board Pub/bar/nightclub | 260 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Oasis Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 406 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
Questions about The Brunel Arms
What is The Brunel Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Brunel Arms has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council on 24 September 2025.
Is The Brunel Arms safe to eat at?
A 2 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 Brunel Arms last inspected?
The Brunel Arms was last inspected on 24 September 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Brunel Arms?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Brunel Arms compare to other places in Rhondda Cynon Taf?
67% of the 1,868 rated food businesses in Rhondda Cynon Taf hold the top rating of 5, while The Brunel Arms holds a 2. 26 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council inspects The Brunel 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 The Brunel Arms 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 2 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf, 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: Rhondda Cynon Taf
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Brunel Arms is one of 222 rated food businesses in Pontyclun. See every hygiene rating in Pontyclun →
Rhondda Cynon Taf inspects and rates 2,023 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Rhondda Cynon Taf →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/en/business/healthandsafety/foodbusiness-foodsafetyinspections/foodbusiness-foodsafetyinspection.aspx
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 →