The Apothecary Tap food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cherwell
The Apothecary Tap 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 3 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: Ground Floor 10 - 11 Butchers Row, Banbury, OX16 5JH
How it compares in Cherwell
That puts The Apothecary Tap 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 Apothecary Tap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Apothecary Tap 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 Apothecary Tap, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee & Corner Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2025 |
| Also Known As Pub/bar/nightclub | 94 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 February 2023 |
| Ash&Flame Steakhouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Banbury Kebab And Burger House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2026 |
| Good game ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2023 |
| Elite 8 Ball Lounge (Bar only) Pub/bar/nightclub | 130 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2025 |
| Caprinos Pizza Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| Coffee #1 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 153 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2024 |
Questions about The Apothecary Tap
What is The Apothecary Tap's food hygiene rating?
The Apothecary Tap has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cherwell Council on 3 February 2023.
Is The Apothecary Tap 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 Apothecary Tap last inspected?
The Apothecary Tap was last inspected on 3 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 Apothecary Tap?
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 Apothecary Tap compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, and The Apothecary Tap is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects The Apothecary Tap 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 Apothecary Tap 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 Apothecary Tap is one of 389 rated food businesses in Banbury. See every hygiene rating in Banbury →
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 →