Reading Express food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Reading
Reading Express holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The shop met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 15 January 2025, 17 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: 102 Oxford Road, Reading, RG1 7LL
How it compares in Reading
In Reading, 65% of rated places manage a 5, so Reading Express sits behind roughly 1,129 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 881 | 65% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 248 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 148 | 11% | ← Reading Express | |
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 155 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Reading Express 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 Reading Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger Den Takeaway/sandwich shop | 45 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2026 |
| Barista and Beyond Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 82 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2022 |
| Cafe 12 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 182 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Bow Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 217 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2017 |
| Cake Box Mobile caterer | 339 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
| Bar Iguana Pub/bar/nightclub | 386 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2025 |
| Burger King Reading Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 386 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2026 |
| Berkshire Vision - RAB Socialeyes Other catering premises | 401 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
Questions about Reading Express
What is Reading Express's food hygiene rating?
Reading Express has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Reading Council on 15 January 2025.
Is Reading Express safe to eat at?
A 3 means the shop met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Reading Express last inspected?
Reading Express was last inspected on 15 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Reading Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Reading Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Reading Express compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, while Reading Express holds a 3. 148 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects Reading Express 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 Reading Express and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Reading inspects and rates 1,517 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Reading →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.reading.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 →