Bar So food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Northamptonshire
Bar So holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 31 January 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: 25 Abington Square, Northampton, Nn1 4aq, NN1 4AQ
How it compares in West Northamptonshire
In West Northamptonshire, 78% of rated places manage a 5, so Bar So sits behind roughly 2,565 nearby businesses. 12% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,565 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 378 | 12% | ← Bar So | |
| 3 out of 5 | 251 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 43 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 9 | <1% |
A further 772 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 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 Bar So 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 Bar So, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| @MP Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 115 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 November 2023 |
| Age UK Northamptonshire Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 264 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
| Asian Express Takeaway/sandwich shop | 320 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2025 |
| ALDI Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 348 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2024 |
| Balti King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 350 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| Bestpol Supermarket Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 382 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 November 2023 |
| Albert J Ramsbottom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 August 2024 |
| 7Bone Burger Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 December 2022 |
Questions about Bar So
What is Bar So's food hygiene rating?
Bar So has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by West Northamptonshire Council on 31 January 2022.
Is Bar So safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Bar So last inspected?
Bar So was last inspected on 31 January 2022, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bar So?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Bar So compare to other places in West Northamptonshire?
78% of the 3,285 rated food businesses in West Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, while Bar So holds a 4. 378 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
West Northamptonshire Council inspects Bar So 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 Bar So and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Bar So is one of 1,617 rated food businesses in Northampton. See every hygiene rating in Northampton →
West Northamptonshire inspects and rates 4,057 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.westnorthants.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 →