The Swallow food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Test Valley
The Swallow 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 30 January 2023, more than 3 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Pilgrims Way, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 5HY
How it compares in Test Valley
That puts The Swallow among the 858 places in Test Valley holding top marks, 88% 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 | 858 | 88% | ← The Swallow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 79 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 22 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 110 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 Swallow 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 Swallow, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddha Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
| Dolce At Vigo Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2025 |
| GOL Elite Coaching Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2025 |
| Andover Young Carers Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 July 2024 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Drive Thru Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2025 |
| Finkley Down Farm Park Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2024 |
Questions about The Swallow
What is The Swallow's food hygiene rating?
The Swallow has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Test Valley Council on 30 January 2023.
Is The Swallow 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 Swallow last inspected?
The Swallow was last inspected on 30 January 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Test Valley Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Swallow?
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 Swallow compare to other places in Test Valley?
88% of the 971 rated food businesses in Test Valley hold the top rating of 5, and The Swallow is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Test Valley Council inspects The Swallow 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 Swallow 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Swallow is one of 368 rated food businesses in Andover. See every hygiene rating in Andover →
Test Valley inspects and rates 1,081 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Test Valley →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.testvalley.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 →