The George Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cherwell
The George Inn holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 18 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: George Inn Lower Street, Barford St Michael, OX15 0RH
How it compares in Cherwell
A 2 is rare: only 14 of 1,221 rated places in Cherwell score this low, about one in 87. By contrast 80% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 977 | 80% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 157 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ← The George Inn | |
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 103 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 George Inn the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The George Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deddington Village Nursery Caring Premises | 1.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 23 April 2018 |
| Londis Bloxham service station Retailers - other | 1.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 17 February 2026 |
| Popular Chinese Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 1.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 25 June 2025 |
| Milcombe Stores (Best One) Retailers - other | 1.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 22 January 2025 |
| The Marlstone Tavern Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2023 |
| The Duck on the Pond Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2025 |
| Briarland Retailers - other | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2021 |
| St Marys Thursday Club Other catering premises | 1.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
Questions about The George Inn
What is The George Inn's food hygiene rating?
The George Inn has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Cherwell Council on 18 January 2026.
Is The George Inn safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The George Inn last inspected?
The George Inn was last inspected on 18 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 The George Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The George Inn compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, while The George Inn holds a 2. 14 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects The George 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 George Inn 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Cherwell, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Cherwell
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →