Merlins food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Powys
Merlins holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 25 April 2025, 14 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: 44-46 Commercial Street, Ystradgynlais, Swansea, SA9 1JH
How it compares in Powys
That puts Merlins among the 1,715 places in Powys holding top marks, 74% 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 | 1,715 | 74% | ← Merlins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 437 | 19% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 91 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 44 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 326 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 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 Merlins 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 Merlins, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best One Retailers - other | at this address | 4 - Good | 25 April 2026 |
| Cari Aromas & Gifts Retailers - other | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
| The Stables Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 63 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2025 |
| Boar Valley Bakes Manufacturers/packers | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| The Old Temp Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2026 |
| Morrisons Daily Retailers - other | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 134 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Mark Griffiths Family Butchers Retailers - other | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2026 |
Questions about Merlins
What is Merlins's food hygiene rating?
Merlins has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Powys Council on 25 April 2025.
Is Merlins 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Merlins last inspected?
Merlins was last inspected on 25 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Powys Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Merlins?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Merlins compare to other places in Powys?
74% of the 2,314 rated food businesses in Powys hold the top rating of 5, and Merlins is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Powys Council inspects Merlins 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 Merlins and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Merlins is one of 67 rated food businesses in Ystradgynlais. See every hygiene rating in Ystradgynlais →
Powys inspects and rates 2,640 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Powys →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.powys.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 →