The Swan food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Mid Suffolk
The Swan 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 13 April 2026, 3 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 Swan. The Swan, 9 High Street, Needham Market, IP6 8AL
How it compares in Mid Suffolk
That puts The Swan among the 623 places in Mid Suffolk holding top marks, 86% 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 | 623 | 86% | ← The Swan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 66 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 123 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 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 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 The Swan, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huseyin Kara Takeaway/sandwich shop | 12 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| The Rampant Horse Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2024 |
| Wongs Takeaway/sandwich shop | 69 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 8 August 2025 |
| The Angel Community Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 78 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 March 2026 |
| AGA Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 August 2024 |
| Olive Tree Other catering premises | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 July 2024 |
| Uvedale Hall Residential Home Caring Premises | 163 yards away | 4 - Good | 24 March 2026 |
| NEEDHAMNEST LTD (Needham Nest) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 221 yards away | Awaiting inspection |
Questions about The Swan
What is The Swan's food hygiene rating?
The Swan has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Suffolk Council on 13 April 2026.
Is The Swan 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 Swan last inspected?
The Swan was last inspected on 13 April 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Swan?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Swan compare to other places in Mid Suffolk?
86% of the 728 rated food businesses in Mid Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and The Swan is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Suffolk Council inspects 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 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
The Swan is one of 33 rated food businesses in Needham Market. See every hygiene rating in Needham Market →
Mid Suffolk inspects and rates 851 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsuffolk.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 →