The Old Swan food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Newcastle-Under-Lyme
The Old Swan 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 9 April 2026, 3 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 Old Swan, Swan Bank, Madeley Heath, CW3 9LD
How it compares in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
That puts The Old Swan among the 779 places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme holding top marks, 87% 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 | 779 | 87% | ← The Old Swan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 70 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 15 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 85 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 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 Old Swan 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 Old Swan, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Meadows Primary School - Caterlink School/college/university | 160 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| The Crewe Arms Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Millers Pharmacy (Secret Potions Ltd) Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | Exempt | |
| Leycett Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Madeley Workingmens Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2024 |
| Madeley High School - Cater Link Ltd School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2024 |
| The Meadows School Nursery - Caterlink School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2026 |
| Tangs Dynasty Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.7 miles away | 0 - Urgent improvement necessary | 10 December 2025 |
Questions about The Old Swan
What is The Old Swan's food hygiene rating?
The Old Swan has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council on 9 April 2026.
Is The Old Swan 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 Old Swan last inspected?
The Old Swan was last inspected on 9 April 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Old Swan?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Old Swan compare to other places in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
87% of the 894 rated food businesses in Newcastle-Under-Lyme hold the top rating of 5, and The Old Swan is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council inspects The Old 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 The Old Swan 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 Old Swan is one of 618 rated food businesses in Newcastle under Lyme. See every hygiene rating in Newcastle under Lyme →
Newcastle-Under-Lyme inspects and rates 979 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newcastle-Under-Lyme →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newcastle-staffs.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 →