The Jovial Sailor food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Guildford
The Jovial Sailor 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 22 January 2026, 5 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: The Jovial Sailor Portsmouth Road, Ripley, GU23 6EZ
How it compares in Guildford
That puts The Jovial Sailor among the 821 places in Guildford holding top marks, 82% 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 | 821 | 82% | ← The Jovial Sailor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 141 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 37 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 132 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 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 Jovial Sailor 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 Jovial Sailor, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delilah Mobile caterer | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2024 |
| Ripley Nurseries & Farm Shop Retailers - other | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2024 |
| The Saddlers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| Distillers Of Surrey Manufacturers/packers | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2024 |
| Shell Little Waitrose Burnt Common Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2025 |
| Starbucks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 December 2024 |
| Lotus Manor Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Starbucks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
Questions about The Jovial Sailor
What is The Jovial Sailor's food hygiene rating?
The Jovial Sailor has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Guildford Council on 22 January 2026.
Is The Jovial Sailor 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 Jovial Sailor last inspected?
The Jovial Sailor was last inspected on 22 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Guildford Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Jovial Sailor?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", 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 Jovial Sailor compare to other places in Guildford?
82% of the 1,007 rated food businesses in Guildford hold the top rating of 5, and The Jovial Sailor is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Guildford Council inspects The Jovial Sailor 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 Jovial Sailor and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Jovial Sailor is one of 27 rated food businesses in Ripley. See every hygiene rating in Ripley →
Guildford inspects and rates 1,139 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Guildford →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.guildford.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 →