The Ernest Willows food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cardiff
The Ernest Willows 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 18 September 2025, 9 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 Ernest Willows 2 - 12 City Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3DL
How it compares in Cardiff
That puts The Ernest Willows among the 2,114 places in Cardiff holding top marks, 70% 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 | 2,114 | 70% | ← The Ernest Willows | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 560 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 258 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 45 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 49 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 8 | <1% |
A further 401 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 The Ernest Willows 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 Ernest Willows, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Pin Of Salt Other catering premises | 17 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2025 |
| Ajs caffee house Other catering premises | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2025 |
| Aroma @ CRI Other catering premises | 231 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2025 |
| Bage Kitchen Takeaway/sandwich shop | 287 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| 888 Top Shop Retailers - other | 290 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2025 |
| Adamsdown Primary School Breakfast Club Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2023 |
| Baby Acorns Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2025 |
| Bargain Bazaar Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2014 |
Questions about The Ernest Willows
What is The Ernest Willows's food hygiene rating?
The Ernest Willows has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cardiff Council on 18 September 2025.
Is The Ernest Willows 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 Ernest Willows last inspected?
The Ernest Willows was last inspected on 18 September 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cardiff Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Ernest Willows?
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 The Ernest Willows compare to other places in Cardiff?
70% of the 3,034 rated food businesses in Cardiff hold the top rating of 5, and The Ernest Willows is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cardiff Council inspects The Ernest Willows 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 Ernest Willows 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 Ernest Willows is one of 247 rated food businesses in Roath. See every hygiene rating in Roath →
Cardiff inspects and rates 3,435 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cardiff →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.srs.wales/en/Environmental-Health/Food-Hygiene-Standards/Food.aspx
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 →