The Bear & Swan food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bath and North East Somerset
The Bear & Swan holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Bear & Swan was inspected on 11 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Bear & Swan, 13 South Parade, Chew Magna, BS40 8SL
How it compares in Bath and North East Somerset
A 2 is rare: only 29 of 1,732 rated places in Bath and North East Somerset score this low, about one in 60. By contrast 73% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,259 | 73% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 266 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 164 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 29 | 2% | ← The Bear & Swan | |
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 109 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- 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 Bear & Swan the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Bear & Swan, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pelican Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| JAR's Retailers - other | 31 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2023 |
| Lazy Lobster Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 45 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Moondance Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| The Wine Rooms Retailers - other | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2024 |
| Chew Valley Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 288 yards away | Exempt | |
| The Co-Operative Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 308 yards away | 4 - Good | 17 July 2025 |
| The Queens Pub/bar/nightclub | 367 yards away | 4 - Good | 14 November 2024 |
Questions about The Bear & Swan
What is The Bear & Swan's food hygiene rating?
The Bear & Swan has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Bath and North East Somerset Council on 11 June 2026.
Is The Bear & Swan safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Bear & Swan last inspected?
The Bear & Swan was last inspected on 11 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bath and North East Somerset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Bear & Swan?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", 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 Bear & Swan compare to other places in Bath and North East Somerset?
73% of the 1,732 rated food businesses in Bath and North East Somerset hold the top rating of 5, while The Bear & Swan holds a 2. 29 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Bath and North East Somerset Council inspects The Bear & 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 The Bear & Swan 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Bath and North East Somerset, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Bath and North East Somerset
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Bear & Swan is one of 21 rated food businesses in Chew Magna. See every hygiene rating in Chew Magna →
Bath and North East Somerset inspects and rates 1,841 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bath and North East Somerset →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/environment/food-safety
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 →