Black Swan food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Herefordshire
Black 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
The rating dates from 14 January 2025, 17 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 Black Swan Inn, HR2 8DJ
How it compares in Herefordshire
A 2 is rare: only 19 of 1,562 rated places in Herefordshire score this low, about one in 82. By contrast 78% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,217 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 104 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 19 | 1% | ← Black Swan | |
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 195 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Black Swan the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled. 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 Black Swan, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steiner Academy - Naturally Nutritious School/college/university | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2026 |
| Steiner Kindergarten Caring Premises | 141 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2024 |
| Falcons Rest, Poachers Cottage and Hunters Lodge Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2026 |
| Carrot & Wine Stores Wormelow Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 4 - Good | 26 November 2025 |
| The Tump Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.9 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 29 March 2025 |
| Pilgrim Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2025 |
Questions about Black Swan
What is Black Swan's food hygiene rating?
Black Swan has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Herefordshire Council on 14 January 2025.
Is Black 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 Black Swan last inspected?
Black Swan was last inspected on 14 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Herefordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Black Swan?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Black Swan compare to other places in Herefordshire?
78% of the 1,562 rated food businesses in Herefordshire hold the top rating of 5, while Black Swan holds a 2. 19 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Herefordshire Council inspects Black 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 Black 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 Herefordshire, 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: Herefordshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Herefordshire inspects and rates 1,757 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Herefordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.herefordshire.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 →