The Smiley Chef food hygiene rating
Mobile caterer · Cherwell
The Smiley Chef holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the mobile caterer met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 21 April 2022, 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: Banbury Cricket Club White Post Road, Bodicote, OX15 4BN
How it compares in Cherwell
That puts The Smiley Chef 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 Smiley Chef | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Smiley Chef 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 Smiley Chef, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butler’s Catering Service’s Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2024 |
| Asda Express PFS Banbury Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2017 |
| Cotswold Dining t/a Farm & Table Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2026 |
| Chasewell Playgroup Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2023 |
| Banbury Lodge Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2024 |
| Blessed George Napier School School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2025 |
| All The Good Stuff Ltd Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
Questions about The Smiley Chef
What is The Smiley Chef's food hygiene rating?
The Smiley Chef has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cherwell Council on 21 April 2022.
Is The Smiley Chef 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 mobile caterer to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Smiley Chef last inspected?
The Smiley Chef was last inspected on 21 April 2022, more than 4 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 Smiley Chef?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Smiley Chef compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, and The Smiley Chef is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects The Smiley Chef 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 Smiley Chef 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 Smiley Chef is one of 16 rated food businesses in Bodicote. See every hygiene rating in Bodicote →
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 →