The Alchemist food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Oxford City
The Alchemist 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 8 April 2024, more than 2 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: 306 The Westgate, Queen Street, Oxford, OX1 1PG
How it compares in Oxford City
That puts The Alchemist among the 1,206 places in Oxford City holding top marks, 87% 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 | 1,206 | 87% | ← The Alchemist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 116 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 32 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 156 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 Very 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 Alchemist 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 Alchemist, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boost Juice Bars Retailers - other | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2024 |
| Benugo Cafe At John Lewis Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 April 2024 |
| Bubble CiTea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 277 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2023 |
| Artisan Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 287 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 April 2024 |
| Black Sheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 359 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 January 2024 |
| Bonn Square News Retailers - other | 373 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2024 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 395 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2022 |
| Banana Tree Oxford Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 435 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2024 |
Questions about The Alchemist
What is The Alchemist's food hygiene rating?
The Alchemist has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Oxford City Council on 8 April 2024.
Is The Alchemist 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 The Alchemist last inspected?
The Alchemist was last inspected on 8 April 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Oxford City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Alchemist?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Alchemist compare to other places in Oxford City?
87% of the 1,381 rated food businesses in Oxford City hold the top rating of 5, and The Alchemist is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Oxford City Council inspects The Alchemist 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 Alchemist and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Oxford City inspects and rates 1,537 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Oxford City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.oxford.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 →