The Starting Gate food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Berkshire
The Starting Gate 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 2 January 2025, 18 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: The Starting Gate 75 Brummell Road, Speen, Newbury, RG14 1SG
How it compares in West Berkshire
That puts The Starting Gate among the 932 places in West Berkshire holding top marks, 86% 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 | 932 | 86% | ← The Starting Gate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 93 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 163 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 Starting Gate 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 Starting Gate, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best One Retailers - other | 224 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2025 |
| ICollege Alternative Education School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2025 |
| Culinera at Speenhamland Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 June 2026 |
| Bacon Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Gurkha Chef Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
| Kings Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2024 |
| Lots of Lovely Art Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2024 |
Questions about The Starting Gate
What is The Starting Gate's food hygiene rating?
The Starting Gate has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Berkshire Council on 2 January 2025.
Is The Starting Gate 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 Starting Gate last inspected?
The Starting Gate was last inspected on 2 January 2025, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Berkshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Starting Gate?
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 Starting Gate compare to other places in West Berkshire?
86% of the 1,090 rated food businesses in West Berkshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Starting Gate is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Berkshire Council inspects The Starting Gate 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 Starting Gate 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 Starting Gate is one of 383 rated food businesses in Newbury. See every hygiene rating in Newbury →
West Berkshire inspects and rates 1,253 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Berkshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westberks.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 →