The Swan food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Babergh
The Swan 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 29 October 2021, more than 4 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Swan Inn, The Street, Holbrook, IP9 2PZ
How it compares in Babergh
That puts The Swan among the 696 places in Babergh 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 | 696 | 86% | ← The Swan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 66 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 27 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 73 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 Swan 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 Swan, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| East of England Co-op Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2025 |
| Woody's The Butchers Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
| Holbrook Playgroup Preschool Caring Premises | 5 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2024 |
| Holbrook Primary School School/college/university | 5 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 21 April 2026 |
| Holbrook Society Other catering premises | 44 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2024 |
| Chimneys B&B Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 October 2016 |
| Anchor Trust St Marys Care Home Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2026 |
| E&J.A. Suckling Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 October 2023 |
Questions about The Swan
What is The Swan's food hygiene rating?
The Swan has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Babergh Council on 29 October 2021.
Is The Swan 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 Swan last inspected?
The Swan was last inspected on 29 October 2021, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Babergh Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Swan?
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 Swan compare to other places in Babergh?
86% of the 806 rated food businesses in Babergh hold the top rating of 5, and The Swan is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Babergh Council inspects The Swan 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 Swan 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
Babergh inspects and rates 879 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Babergh →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.babergh.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 →