Ponsonby Arms food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Denbighshire
Ponsonby Arms holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 3 November 2016, more than 9 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: The Ponsonby Arms Mill Street, Llangollen, LL20 8RY
How it compares in Denbighshire
That puts Ponsonby Arms among the 815 places in Denbighshire holding top marks, 81% 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 | 815 | 81% | ← Ponsonby Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 116 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 57 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 140 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 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 Ponsonby Arms 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 Ponsonby Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bridge End Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2026 |
| Bensons Hotel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 139 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 August 2022 |
| Zingiber Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 139 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2014 |
| Three Eagles Mediterranean Bar and Grill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 139 yards away | 4 - Good | 17 June 2025 |
| The Medicine Garden Llangollen, CIC Retailers - other | 139 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Bistro Lafant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 139 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 22 May 2025 |
| Riverbanc Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 144 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
| The Hand Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 148 yards away | 4 - Good | 2 December 2025 |
Questions about Ponsonby Arms
What is Ponsonby Arms's food hygiene rating?
Ponsonby Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Denbighshire Council on 3 November 2016.
Is Ponsonby Arms 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Ponsonby Arms last inspected?
Ponsonby Arms was last inspected on 3 November 2016, more than 9 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Denbighshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Ponsonby Arms?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Ponsonby Arms compare to other places in Denbighshire?
81% of the 1,009 rated food businesses in Denbighshire hold the top rating of 5, and Ponsonby Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Denbighshire Council inspects Ponsonby Arms 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 Ponsonby Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Ponsonby Arms is one of 98 rated food businesses in Llangollen. See every hygiene rating in Llangollen →
Denbighshire inspects and rates 1,149 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Denbighshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.denbighshire.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 →