The Barley Mow food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Portsmouth
The Barley Mow 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 26 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: Public House, 39 Castle Road, Southsea, PO5 3DE
How it compares in Portsmouth
That puts The Barley Mow among the 978 places in Portsmouth holding top marks, 64% 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 | 978 | 64% | ← The Barley Mow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 310 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 124 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 67 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 53 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 269 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 Barley Mow 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 Barley Mow, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arty Potz Other catering premises | 188 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2019 |
| Bobbys Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2025 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2018 |
| André's Food Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Buckwells Of Southsea Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Auckland Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2017 |
| Breakfast / After School Club Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 July 2026 |
| Blossom Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
Questions about The Barley Mow
What is The Barley Mow's food hygiene rating?
The Barley Mow has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Portsmouth Council on 26 August 2025.
Is The Barley Mow 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 Barley Mow last inspected?
The Barley Mow was last inspected on 26 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Portsmouth Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Barley Mow?
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 Barley Mow compare to other places in Portsmouth?
64% of the 1,534 rated food businesses in Portsmouth hold the top rating of 5, and The Barley Mow is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Portsmouth Council inspects The Barley Mow 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 Barley Mow 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 Barley Mow is one of 541 rated food businesses in Southsea. See every hygiene rating in Southsea →
Portsmouth inspects and rates 1,803 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Portsmouth →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.portsmouth.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 →