The Otter Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Winchester City
The Otter Inn 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 14 October 2025, 8 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 Otter, Boyatt Lane, Otterbourne, SO21 2HW
How it compares in Winchester City
That puts The Otter Inn among the 966 places in Winchester City holding top marks, 89% 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 | 966 | 89% | ← The Otter Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 91 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 20 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 85 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 Good
- 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 Otter Inn 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 Otter Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Horizons Otterbourne Day Nursery And Preschool Caring Premises | 105 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill Caring Premises | 150 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2025 |
| Aspens Services Limited @ Thornden School Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2026 |
| Chartwells @ Scantabout Primary School School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2026 |
| Barchester Health Care - Challoner House Caring Premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2026 |
Questions about The Otter Inn
What is The Otter Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Otter Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Winchester City Council on 14 October 2025.
Is The Otter Inn 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 Otter Inn last inspected?
The Otter Inn was last inspected on 14 October 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Winchester City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Otter Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Otter Inn compare to other places in Winchester City?
89% of the 1,084 rated food businesses in Winchester City hold the top rating of 5, and The Otter Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Winchester City Council inspects The Otter Inn 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 Otter Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Winchester City inspects and rates 1,169 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Winchester City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.winchester.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 →