The Oak Tavern food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Suffolk
The Oak Tavern holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 16 November 2010, more than 15 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: The Oak Tavern, 73 Crown Street West, Lowestoft, NR32 1SQ
How it compares in East Suffolk
In East Suffolk, 86% of rated places manage a 5, so The Oak Tavern sits behind roughly 1,994 nearby businesses. 9% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,994 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 213 | 9% | ← The Oak Tavern | |
| 3 out of 5 | 71 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 201 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- 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 Oak Tavern 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 Oak Tavern, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| First & Last Pub/bar/nightclub | 116 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 March 2025 |
| Daisy's Delights Manufacturers/packers | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2026 |
| Allsorts Retailers - other | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2019 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 205 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Bottle & Basket Retailers - other | 208 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 September 2011 |
| Beresford Road Evangelical Church Other catering premises | 301 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2024 |
| GGs Wine Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 337 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| Factory Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 363 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2026 |
Questions about The Oak Tavern
What is The Oak Tavern's food hygiene rating?
The Oak Tavern has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by East Suffolk Council on 16 November 2010.
Is The Oak Tavern safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Oak Tavern last inspected?
The Oak Tavern was last inspected on 16 November 2010, more than 15 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Oak Tavern?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Oak Tavern compare to other places in East Suffolk?
86% of the 2,318 rated food businesses in East Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, while The Oak Tavern holds a 4. 213 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects The Oak Tavern 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 Oak Tavern 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 Oak Tavern is one of 573 rated food businesses in Lowestoft. See every hygiene rating in Lowestoft →
East Suffolk inspects and rates 2,519 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastsuffolk.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 →