The Merlin food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Swindon
The Merlin 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 23 March 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: Drove Road, Swindon, SN1 3AF
How it compares in Swindon
That puts The Merlin 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 Merlin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Merlin 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 Merlin, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 320 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2024 |
| Best Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 September 2024 |
| Abacus House Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 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 |
| Beehive Public House Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2022 |
| Big Breakfast Plus Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Baristocats Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
Questions about The Merlin
What is The Merlin's food hygiene rating?
The Merlin has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Swindon Council on 23 March 2026.
Is The Merlin 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 Merlin last inspected?
The Merlin was last inspected on 23 March 2026, 3 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 Merlin?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Merlin compare to other places in Swindon?
83% of the 1,428 rated food businesses in Swindon hold the top rating of 5, and The Merlin is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Swindon Council inspects The Merlin 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 Merlin and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →