The Sailors Return food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Dorset
The Sailors Return 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 30 January 2025, 17 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 Sailors Return, East Chaldon, DT2 8DN
How it compares in Dorset
That puts The Sailors Return among the 3,808 places in Dorset holding top marks, 95% 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 | 3,808 | 95% | ← The Sailors Return | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 139 | 3% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 33 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 1,119 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 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 Sailors Return 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 Sailors Return, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fives Food Mobile caterer | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| Jurassic Coast Fine Foods Ltd Manufacturers/packers | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2025 |
| Lets do Lunch at Winfrith Newburgh Village Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2026 |
| Chartwells @ Lulworth & Winfrith Primary School School/college/university | 1.4 miles away | 4 - Good | 13 November 2024 |
| Dobbies Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| The Red Lion Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2026 |
| Owermoigne Service Station Shop Retailers - other | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2019 |
| Owermoigne Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2019 |
Questions about The Sailors Return
What is The Sailors Return's food hygiene rating?
The Sailors Return has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dorset Council on 30 January 2025.
Is The Sailors Return 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 Sailors Return last inspected?
The Sailors Return was last inspected on 30 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dorset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Sailors Return?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Sailors Return compare to other places in Dorset?
95% of the 3,988 rated food businesses in Dorset hold the top rating of 5, and The Sailors Return is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dorset Council inspects The Sailors Return 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 Sailors Return and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Dorset inspects and rates 5,107 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dorset →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.dorsetcouncil.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 →