The Modern Milkman food hygiene rating
Distributors/Transporters · Swindon
The Modern Milkman holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the distributor and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 14 March 2025, 17 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.
Only 2% of rated food businesses in Swindon score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Swindon ratings →
Address: Unit 14, Marshall Road, Hillmead Industrial Estate, SN5 5FZ
How it compares in Swindon
A 1 is rare: only 17 of 1,435 rated places in Swindon score this low, about one in 84. By contrast 83% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,190 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 173 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 43 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ← The Modern Milkman | |
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | 1% |
A further 229 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 Very good
- 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 Modern Milkman the inspector recorded concerns over 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 Modern Milkman, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay Lounge / Mantra / Bengal Square Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2024 |
| Busy Bees At Peatmoor Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2024 |
| Cineworld Other catering premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2026 |
| Cafe Nexus Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| Asda Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2024 |
| Britz Fish And Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2024 |
| Caterlink Ltd (c/o Tregoze Primary School) School/college/university | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2025 |
Questions about The Modern Milkman
What is The Modern Milkman's food hygiene rating?
The Modern Milkman has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Swindon Council on 14 March 2025.
Is The Modern Milkman safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The distributor 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 Modern Milkman last inspected?
The Modern Milkman was last inspected on 14 March 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swindon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Modern Milkman?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", 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 Modern Milkman compare to other places in Swindon?
83% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in Swindon hold the top rating of 5, while The Modern Milkman holds a 1. 17 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Swindon Council inspects The Modern Milkman 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 Modern Milkman 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 Swindon, 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: Swindon
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Swindon inspects and rates 1,664 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swindon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.swindon.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 →