Smugglers Return food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Worthing
Smugglers Return 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 25 February 2026, 4 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 Smugglers Return 112 Ham Road, Worthing, BN11 2QS
How it compares in Worthing
That puts Smugglers Return among the 756 places in Worthing 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 | 756 | 81% | ← Smugglers Return | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 122 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 88 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 Very 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 Smugglers Return 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 Smugglers Return, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camelot Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 409 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2022 |
| Best One Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2025 |
| Beer No Evil Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2025 |
| Azalea Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2024 |
| Beautifu'Lee' Baked Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| BP Londis Brooklands & Pret a Manger & Burger King Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Bright Horizons Worthing Day Nursery and Preschool Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
| Brooklands Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2025 |
Questions about Smugglers Return
What is Smugglers Return's food hygiene rating?
Smugglers Return has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Worthing Council on 25 February 2026.
Is Smugglers Return 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 Smugglers Return last inspected?
Smugglers Return was last inspected on 25 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Worthing Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Smugglers Return?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Smugglers Return compare to other places in Worthing?
81% of the 933 rated food businesses in Worthing hold the top rating of 5, and Smugglers Return is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Worthing Council inspects Smugglers Return 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 Smugglers Return and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Worthing inspects and rates 1,021 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Worthing →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.adur-worthing.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 →