The Roaring Donkey food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Swindon
The Roaring Donkey 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 2 January 2025, 18 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 6 Albert Street, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 3HJ
How it compares in Swindon
That puts The Roaring Donkey among the 1,182 places in Swindon holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,182 | 83% | ← The Roaring Donkey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 177 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 6 | <1% |
A further 208 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 The Roaring Donkey 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 Roaring Donkey, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bert's Books Takeaway/sandwich shop | 206 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2022 |
| Bath Road Methodist Church Luncheon Club Other catering premises | 240 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| Atmosfera Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2024 |
| Abacus House Caring Premises | 328 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2024 |
| Beehive Public House Pub/bar/nightclub | 434 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2022 |
| Best Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 September 2024 |
| Beenies Caribbean Cuisine Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 June 2024 |
| Beni's Wine Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2026 |
Questions about The Roaring Donkey
What is The Roaring Donkey's food hygiene rating?
The Roaring Donkey has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Swindon Council on 2 January 2025.
Is The Roaring Donkey 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 Roaring Donkey last inspected?
The Roaring Donkey was last inspected on 2 January 2025, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swindon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Roaring Donkey?
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 The Roaring Donkey compare to other places in Swindon?
83% of the 1,428 rated food businesses in Swindon hold the top rating of 5, and The Roaring Donkey is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Swindon Council inspects The Roaring Donkey 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 Roaring Donkey 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 Roaring Donkey is one of 127 rated food businesses in Old Town. See every hygiene rating in Old Town →
Swindon inspects and rates 1,636 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swindon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.swindon.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 →