Food Hygiene Ratings in Cherwell

1,331 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.7 out of 5. 80.0% rated "very good".

1,331
Businesses
4.7/5
Average Rating
10
Rated 0 or 1
80.0%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good80.0%977
Good12.3%150
Satisfactory5.7%70
Improvement Needed1.1%14
Major Improvement0.6%7
Urgent Improvement0.2%3

Business types

Other catering premises31623.7%
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen28121.1%
Retailers - other22316.8%
Takeaway/sandwich shop1188.9%
School/college/university886.6%
Mobile caterer785.9%
Pub/bar/nightclub685.1%
Caring Premises594.4%

Food hygiene ratings in Cherwell are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.

The source snapshot contains 1,331 registered food businesses for Cherwell. Of these, 1,221 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs broadly in line with the national average, with 80.0% rated 5 out of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.7 out of 5. The snapshot contains 10 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they required urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.

If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.

Source snapshot retrieved: July 22, 2026. Ratings may have changed since retrieval; verify with the linked authority.

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
DunelmOX16 2RX0Mar 17, 2026
KEBANOSOX26 6FA0Apr 23, 2026
North Aston Farm ShopOX25 6HX0Jul 02, 2026
Banbury Express Food And WineOX16 1AS1Mar 28, 2025
Bengal Spice Oxford LimitedOX15 0SP1Jul 02, 2026
Bicester Pizza HouseOX26 6RD1Jul 08, 2025
JENNYS BISTRO CAFEOX26 6AD1Jun 22, 2026
Love DessertsOX16 5DZ1Jul 14, 2026
Roma coffeeOX16 5NB1Dec 09, 2025
Zabka SupermarketOX5 1EE1Nov 03, 2025
Banbury KebabishOX16 5EX2Dec 18, 2025
Chols The Sandwich MakerOX26 6AA2Aug 19, 2025
Fat Jacks Kebab & Fried ChickenOX16 5EX2Jun 29, 2026
Flaming hutOX16 4QJ2Dec 01, 2025
Love DessertsOX26 6HY2Mar 23, 2026

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Cherwell have a 5 rating?+

The source snapshot contains 977 food businesses in Cherwell with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 80.0% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.

What does a food hygiene rating of 1 mean in Cherwell?+

A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.

How often are food businesses inspected in Cherwell?+

Inspection frequency in Cherwell depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.

Data from official government food safety agencies