Castle Hotel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Torfaen
Castle Hotel 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 21 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: Castle Hotel, 94 Broad Street, Blaenavon, NP4 9ND
How it compares in Torfaen
A 2 is rare: only 7 of 709 rated places in Torfaen score this low, about one in 101. By contrast 72% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 511 | 72% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 128 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 41 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ← Castle Hotel | |
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 72 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 Castle Hotel the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 Castle Hotel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sweet Stop Retailers - other | at this address | Awaiting inspection | |
| Blaenavon Kebab and Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| Forgeside Rugby Sports and Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Heritage Plaice Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| Honey Bee Cwtch Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2025 |
| Rehmat Spice Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Mr Fruity Retailers - other | 2 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| Well Pharmacy Retailers - other | 10 yards away | Exempt |
Questions about Castle Hotel
What is Castle Hotel's food hygiene rating?
Castle Hotel has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Torfaen Council on 21 January 2025.
Is Castle Hotel 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 Castle Hotel last inspected?
Castle Hotel was last inspected on 21 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Torfaen Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Castle Hotel?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Castle Hotel compare to other places in Torfaen?
72% of the 709 rated food businesses in Torfaen hold the top rating of 5, while Castle Hotel holds a 2. 7 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Torfaen Council inspects Castle Hotel 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 Castle Hotel 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 Torfaen, 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: Torfaen
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Castle Hotel is one of 288 rated food businesses in Pontypool. See every hygiene rating in Pontypool →
Torfaen inspects and rates 781 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Torfaen →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.torfaen.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 →