The Duck on the Pond food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Cherwell
The Duck on the Pond 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
This is a fresh result: The Duck on the Pond was inspected on 29 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
92% of rated food businesses in Cherwell score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Cherwell ratings →
Address: The Duck On The Pond, South Newington, OX15 4JE
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near The Duck on the Pond
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How this rating has changed
The Duck on the Pond was re-inspected on 29 July 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 29 July 2026 | 5 5 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Cherwell
That puts The Duck on the Pond among the 986 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 | 986 | 80% | ← The Duck on the Pond | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 149 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 15 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 110 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 Duck on the Pond 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 Duck on the Pond, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packed Meal Prep Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 April 2024 |
| Urban Spice Bistro and Tapas Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
| Milcombe Stores (Best One) Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 4 - Good | 22 January 2025 |
Questions about The Duck on the Pond
What is The Duck on the Pond's food hygiene rating?
The Duck on the Pond has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cherwell Council on 29 July 2026.
Is The Duck on the Pond 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 Duck on the Pond last inspected?
The Duck on the Pond was last inspected on 29 July 2026, a month 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 Duck on the Pond?
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 Duck on the Pond compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,225 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, and The Duck on the Pond is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects The Duck on the Pond 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 Duck on the Pond 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cherwell inspects and rates 1,335 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 →