The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Oxfordshire
The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn 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 16 April 2026, 2 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: Stow Road, Fifield, Chipping Norton, OX7 6HR
How it compares in West Oxfordshire
That puts The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn among the 957 places in West Oxfordshire holding top marks, 94% 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 | 957 | 94% | ← The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 42 | 4% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 110 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 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 Cotswold Merrymouth Inn 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 Cotswold Merrymouth Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Feathered Nest Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| Bruern Farms Farm Shop Retailers - other | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2022 |
| Wychwood Baptist Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2018 |
| Milton Hare - The Potted Goose Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2024 |
| Milton-under-Wychwood Sports Association Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.8 miles away | Exempt | |
| Fire & Wine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 April 2024 |
| Rise & Flour Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 August 2024 |
| Rise & Flour Aristan Bakery Retailers - other | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 August 2024 |
Questions about The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn
What is The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Oxfordshire Council on 16 April 2026.
Is The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn 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 Cotswold Merrymouth Inn last inspected?
The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn was last inspected on 16 April 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Oxfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn compare to other places in West Oxfordshire?
94% of the 1,013 rated food businesses in West Oxfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Cotswold Merrymouth Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Oxfordshire Council inspects The Cotswold Merrymouth 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 Cotswold Merrymouth Inn 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 Cotswold Merrymouth Inn is one of 197 rated food businesses in Chipping Norton. See every hygiene rating in Chipping Norton →
West Oxfordshire inspects and rates 1,123 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Oxfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westoxon.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 →