The Elephant & Castle food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · New Forest
The Elephant & Castle 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 27 August 2025, 10 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: 40 Commercial Road, Totton, Southampton, SO40 3AG
How it compares in New Forest
That puts The Elephant & Castle among the 1,153 places in New Forest holding top marks, 80% 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 | 1,153 | 80% | ← The Elephant & Castle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 69 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 138 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 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 Elephant & Castle 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 Elephant & Castle, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chopsticks Takeaway/sandwich shop | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| Forest Park Senior School School/college/university | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Asda Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 140 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2026 |
| Asda Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 140 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2024 |
| Arrosto DI Caffe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 168 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2024 |
| Cats Protection - Southampton Branch Charity Shop Retailers - other | 181 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2025 |
| Fun Box Day Nursery Caring Premises | 238 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2018 |
Questions about The Elephant & Castle
What is The Elephant & Castle's food hygiene rating?
The Elephant & Castle has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 27 August 2025.
Is The Elephant & Castle 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 Elephant & Castle last inspected?
The Elephant & Castle was last inspected on 27 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by New Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Elephant & Castle?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Elephant & Castle compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, and The Elephant & Castle is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects The Elephant & Castle 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 Elephant & Castle 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 Elephant & Castle is one of 133 rated food businesses in Totton. See every hygiene rating in Totton →
New Forest inspects and rates 1,573 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in New Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newforest.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 →