The Marlstone Tavern food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Cherwell
The Marlstone Tavern holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 2 February 2023, more than 3 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: The Marlstone Tavern Milton Village Street, Milton, OX15 4HH
How it compares in Cherwell
That puts The Marlstone Tavern 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% | ← The Marlstone Tavern | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 157 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 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 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 Marlstone Tavern 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 Marlstone Tavern, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ampersand Manufacturers/packers | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| Bloxham Football Club Other catering premises | 1.3 miles away | 4 - Good | 1 May 2012 |
| Godswell Park Caring Premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2025 |
| Bloxham Bowls Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2023 |
| Culinera @ The Warriner School Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2023 |
| Warriner School Farm Retailers - other | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2016 |
| St Marys Thursday Club Other catering premises | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
| The Joiners Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.3 miles away | Awaiting inspection |
Questions about The Marlstone Tavern
What is The Marlstone Tavern's food hygiene rating?
The Marlstone Tavern has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cherwell Council on 2 February 2023.
Is The Marlstone Tavern 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Marlstone Tavern last inspected?
The Marlstone Tavern was last inspected on 2 February 2023, more than 3 years 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 Marlstone Tavern?
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 Marlstone Tavern compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, and The Marlstone Tavern is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects The Marlstone Tavern 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 Marlstone Tavern and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 →