Birch Bread food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · West Berkshire
Birch Bread holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 4 February 2026, 5 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: 14 - 16 Reading Road, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 7LY
How it compares in West Berkshire
That puts Birch Bread among the 932 places in West Berkshire holding top marks, 86% 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 | 932 | 86% | ← Birch Bread | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 93 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 163 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 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 Birch Bread 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 Birch Bread, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nino's Italian Deli Retailers - other | 21 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
| The Pangbourne Cheese Shop Ltd Retailers - other | 25 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2018 |
| The Pangbourne Cheese Shop Ltd (The Loose Larder) Retailers - other | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 31 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2018 |
| Garlands Organic Retailers - other | 31 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 April 2013 |
| Ada Meyhane Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Pangbourne Day Nursery Caring Premises | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Londis Retailers - other | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
Questions about Birch Bread
What is Birch Bread's food hygiene rating?
Birch Bread has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Berkshire Council on 4 February 2026.
Is Birch Bread 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Birch Bread last inspected?
Birch Bread was last inspected on 4 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Berkshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Birch Bread?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Birch Bread compare to other places in West Berkshire?
86% of the 1,090 rated food businesses in West Berkshire hold the top rating of 5, and Birch Bread is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Berkshire Council inspects Birch Bread 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 Birch Bread and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Birch Bread is one of 37 rated food businesses in Pangbourne. See every hygiene rating in Pangbourne →
West Berkshire inspects and rates 1,253 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Berkshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westberks.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 →