The Observatory food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Swansea
The Observatory holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The restaurant met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
This is a fresh result: The Observatory was inspected on 1 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: The Observatory Marina Towers, Slipway Road, SA1 1YB
How it compares in Swansea
In Swansea, 69% of rated places manage a 5, so The Observatory sits behind roughly 1,876 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,464 | 69% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 412 | 19% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 209 | 10% | ← The Observatory | |
| 2 out of 5 | 27 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 296 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 Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Observatory 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 Observatory, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Food Retailers - other | 417 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2018 |
| BeerRiff Brewing Company Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2025 |
| Altitude 28 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| Connect Project Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2022 |
| Cattle and Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 April 2025 |
| Carl's Jr. Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2025 |
| Coyote Ugly Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2025 |
| 11:11 Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
Questions about The Observatory
What is The Observatory's food hygiene rating?
The Observatory has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Swansea Council on 1 June 2026.
Is The Observatory safe to eat at?
A 3 means the restaurant met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was The Observatory last inspected?
The Observatory was last inspected on 1 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swansea Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Observatory?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Observatory compare to other places in Swansea?
69% of the 2,137 rated food businesses in Swansea hold the top rating of 5, while The Observatory holds a 3. 209 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Swansea Council inspects The Observatory 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 Observatory 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
The Observatory is one of 23 rated food businesses in Maritime Quarter. See every hygiene rating in Maritime Quarter →
Swansea inspects and rates 2,433 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swansea →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.swansea.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 →