The Swinging Arm food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Wirral
The Swinging Arm 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 7 January 2022, more than 4 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: 61-63 Church Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 5EG
How it compares in Wirral
That puts The Swinging Arm among the 1,596 places in Wirral holding top marks, 72% 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 | 1,596 | 72% | ← The Swinging Arm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 367 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 177 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 36 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 27 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 113 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 Swinging Arm 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 Swinging Arm, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alley Cats Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2025 |
| B & M Store Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 June 2026 |
| ASDA Green Lane Express Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 July 2023 |
| Adams + Russell Distributors/Transporters | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2025 |
| @ 142 Bar & Bistro, Lauries Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 June 2025 |
| ASDA Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2025 |
| Asda Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2026 |
| Asda Express Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 July 2023 |
Questions about The Swinging Arm
What is The Swinging Arm's food hygiene rating?
The Swinging Arm has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Wirral Council on 7 January 2022.
Is The Swinging Arm 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 Swinging Arm last inspected?
The Swinging Arm was last inspected on 7 January 2022, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Wirral Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Swinging Arm?
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 Swinging Arm compare to other places in Wirral?
72% of the 2,208 rated food businesses in Wirral hold the top rating of 5, and The Swinging Arm is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Wirral Council inspects The Swinging Arm 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 Swinging Arm 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 Swinging Arm is one of 283 rated food businesses in Birkenhead. See every hygiene rating in Birkenhead →
Wirral inspects and rates 2,321 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Wirral →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.wirral.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 →