Borough Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cardiff
Borough Arms 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 May 2017, 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: Borough Arms 8 St Mary Street, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 1AT
How it compares in Cardiff
That puts Borough Arms 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% | ← Borough Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Borough 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 Borough Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 36 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2024 |
| Anand George’s Indian Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2025 |
| Bao Selecta Other catering premises | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| Bar 44 Cardiff Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 191 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2026 |
| Beanfreaks Ltd Retailers - other | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2021 |
| Blacksheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| Americandy Retailers - other | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 July 2024 |
| Alcotraz Other catering premises | 271 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2024 |
Questions about Borough Arms
What is Borough Arms's food hygiene rating?
Borough Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cardiff Council on 30 May 2017.
Is Borough 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Borough Arms last inspected?
Borough Arms was last inspected on 30 May 2017, more than 9 years 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 Borough 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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Borough Arms compare to other places in Cardiff?
70% of the 3,034 rated food businesses in Cardiff hold the top rating of 5, and Borough Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cardiff Council inspects Borough 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 Borough Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Borough Arms is one of 626 rated food businesses in Cathays. See every hygiene rating in Cathays →
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 →