Merlins Cave food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Buckinghamshire
Merlins Cave 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 12 November 2025, 8 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 Green, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, HP8 4QF
How it compares in Buckinghamshire
That puts Merlins Cave among the 3,235 places in Buckinghamshire holding top marks, 81% 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 | 3,235 | 81% | ← Merlins Cave | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 527 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 171 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 41 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 31 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 606 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 Merlins Cave 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 Merlins Cave, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 69 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2014 |
| Durans Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2026 |
| All Together Community Fridge Retailers - other | 150 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2024 |
| Chalfont St Giles Village Schools \& Nursery School/college/university | 250 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Chalfont St Giles Pre School Playgroup Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2015 |
| Chalfont St Giles Bowling Club Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2009 |
| Chalfont St Giles Youth Club Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 March 2012 |
| Holy Moly Guac Shack Mobile caterer | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
Questions about Merlins Cave
What is Merlins Cave's food hygiene rating?
Merlins Cave has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Buckinghamshire Council on 12 November 2025.
Is Merlins Cave 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 Merlins Cave last inspected?
Merlins Cave was last inspected on 12 November 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Buckinghamshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Merlins Cave?
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 Merlins Cave compare to other places in Buckinghamshire?
81% of the 4,006 rated food businesses in Buckinghamshire hold the top rating of 5, and Merlins Cave is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Buckinghamshire Council inspects Merlins Cave 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 Merlins Cave and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Merlins Cave is one of 33 rated food businesses in Chalfont St Giles. See every hygiene rating in Chalfont St Giles →
Buckinghamshire inspects and rates 4,612 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Buckinghamshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.buckinghamshire.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 →