Sainsburys Local food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Cherwell
Sainsburys Local holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 21 January 2026, 5 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: Unit 1 Walker Road, Banbury, OX16 1HE
How it compares in Cherwell
That puts Sainsburys Local among the 977 places in Cherwell holding top marks, 80% 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 | 977 | 80% | ← Sainsburys Local | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 154 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 107 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 Sainsburys Local 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 Sainsburys Local, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| C J Harper Butchers Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| BB Wine Store Limited T/A One Stop Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2023 |
| Hanwell Fields Community School School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2026 |
| Hanwell Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2026 |
Questions about Sainsburys Local
What is Sainsburys Local's food hygiene rating?
Sainsburys Local has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cherwell Council on 21 January 2026.
Is Sainsburys Local 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Sainsburys Local last inspected?
Sainsburys Local was last inspected on 21 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cherwell Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sainsburys Local?
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 Sainsburys Local compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,217 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, and Sainsburys Local is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects Sainsburys Local 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 Sainsburys Local 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
Sainsburys Local is one of 390 rated food businesses in Banbury. See every hygiene rating in Banbury →
Cherwell inspects and rates 1,324 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cherwell →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cherwell.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 →