The Bear food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bristol
The Bear holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 27 November 2023, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: The Bear Hotel, 261 Hotwell Road, Hotwells, BS8 4SF
How it compares in Bristol
In Bristol, 76% of rated places manage a 5, so The Bear sits behind roughly 2,823 nearby businesses. 16% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,823 | 76% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 608 | 16% | ← The Bear | |
| 3 out of 5 | 189 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 33 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 11 | <1% |
A further 758 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 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 Bear 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 Bear, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance in Partnership School/college/university | 189 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| ANNA Cake Couture Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2023 |
| 22 Clifton Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| 1 York Place Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2026 |
| Ashton Gate Out of School Care School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| Ashton Gate Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 November 2025 |
| Alliance in Partnership School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 September 2025 |
| Ashton Gate Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2025 |
Questions about The Bear
What is The Bear's food hygiene rating?
The Bear has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Bristol Council on 27 November 2023.
Is The Bear safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Bear last inspected?
The Bear was last inspected on 27 November 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bristol Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bear?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Bear compare to other places in Bristol?
76% of the 3,703 rated food businesses in Bristol hold the top rating of 5, while The Bear holds a 4. 608 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Bristol Council inspects The Bear 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 Bear 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 Bear is one of 46 rated food businesses in Hotwells. See every hygiene rating in Hotwells →
Bristol inspects and rates 4,461 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bristol →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bristol.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 →