The Horseshoe Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Isle of Wight
The Horseshoe Inn 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 14 December 2017, more than 8 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: Horseshoe Inn, 353 Newport Road, Cowes, PO31 8PL
How it compares in Isle of Wight
That puts The Horseshoe Inn among the 1,042 places in Isle of Wight holding top marks, 70% 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 | 1,042 | 70% | ← The Horseshoe Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 261 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 139 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <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 Horseshoe Inn 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 Horseshoe Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOW Care Home Caring Premises | 211 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2016 |
| BAE Cowes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2024 |
| Churchills Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Limited Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| All About Catering Mobile caterer | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Kick Back Café Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2023 |
| Elixir Freshly Frozen Manufacturers/packers | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2025 |
| Booker Ltd Distributors/Transporters | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
Questions about The Horseshoe Inn
What is The Horseshoe Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Horseshoe Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Isle of Wight Council on 14 December 2017.
Is The Horseshoe Inn 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 Horseshoe Inn last inspected?
The Horseshoe Inn was last inspected on 14 December 2017, more than 8 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Isle of Wight Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Horseshoe Inn?
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 Horseshoe Inn compare to other places in Isle of Wight?
70% of the 1,479 rated food businesses in Isle of Wight hold the top rating of 5, and The Horseshoe Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Isle of Wight Council inspects The Horseshoe Inn 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 Horseshoe Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Horseshoe Inn is one of 139 rated food businesses in Cowes. See every hygiene rating in Cowes →
Isle of Wight inspects and rates 1,687 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Isle of Wight →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.iow.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/community-protection-services/
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 →