Fardons at the Swan food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Central Bedfordshire
Fardons at the Swan 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 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 White Swan, 2 Bedford Road, Shefford, SG17 5DJ
How it compares in Central Bedfordshire
In Central Bedfordshire, 76% of rated places manage a 5, so Fardons at the Swan sits behind roughly 1,153 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,153 | 76% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 254 | 17% | ← Fardons at the Swan | |
| 3 out of 5 | 83 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 189 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 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 Fardons at the Swan 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 Fardons at the Swan, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shefford Baptist Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 99 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
| The Loft Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 252 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Truly Thai Takeaway Mobile caterer | 268 yards away | 4 - Good | 27 February 2025 |
| The Pudding Parlour Takeaway/sandwich shop | 271 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2025 |
| Crispy Chicken & Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 278 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 15 December 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 312 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2025 |
| Shefford Tandoori Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 312 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
| New Rays Takeaway/sandwich shop | 312 yards away | 4 - Good | 14 May 2025 |
Questions about Fardons at the Swan
What is Fardons at the Swan's food hygiene rating?
Fardons at the Swan has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Central Bedfordshire Council on 12 November 2025.
Is Fardons at the Swan 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 Fardons at the Swan last inspected?
Fardons at the Swan was last inspected on 12 November 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Central Bedfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Fardons at the Swan?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Fardons at the Swan compare to other places in Central Bedfordshire?
76% of the 1,520 rated food businesses in Central Bedfordshire hold the top rating of 5, while Fardons at the Swan holds a 4. 254 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Central Bedfordshire Council inspects Fardons at the Swan 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 Fardons at the Swan and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Fardons at the Swan is one of 36 rated food businesses in Shefford. See every hygiene rating in Shefford →
Central Bedfordshire inspects and rates 1,709 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Central Bedfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.centralbedfordshire.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 →