Royal Oak food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · East Suffolk
Royal Oak holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the business 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 7 October 2021, more than 4 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: 195 London Road South, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0DR
How it compares in East Suffolk
In East Suffolk, 86% of rated places manage a 5, so Royal Oak 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% | ← Royal Oak | |
| 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 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 Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eventopia Party Ltd Retailers - other | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Beach Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2024 |
| Coffee@The Claremont Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 126 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Co-op Kirkley Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 143 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2019 |
| Desmonds Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 149 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2026 |
| Cofetaria Gabriela's Cakes Lowestoft Ltd Retailers - other | 204 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2025 |
| East Point Pavilion - Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2025 |
| Chipsters/The Harbour Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2024 |
Questions about Royal Oak
What is Royal Oak's food hygiene rating?
Royal Oak has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by East Suffolk Council on 7 October 2021.
Is Royal Oak 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 business to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Royal Oak last inspected?
Royal Oak was last inspected on 7 October 2021, more than 4 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 Royal Oak?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak holds a 4. 213 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
East Suffolk Council inspects Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Royal Oak 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 →