The Catherine Wheel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Berkshire
The Catherine Wheel holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 12 March 2026, 4 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: 35 Cheap Street, Newbury, RG14 5DB
How it compares in West Berkshire
A 2 is rare: only 12 of 1,090 rated places in West Berkshire score this low, about one in 91. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 932 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 93 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ← The Catherine Wheel | |
| 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 Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- 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 The Catherine Wheel the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
What the business says
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> <strong>I agree with the inspection results but have since carried out the following improvements (tick all that apply):</strong></p> </td> <td> <p> Establishment has been thoroughly cleaned,Procedures have been put in place to ensure cleanliness is maintained,There is now a new manager and/or new staff,Staff have been trained/re-trained/given instruction</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> &nbsp;</p>
Businesses have a right to reply to their rating. This response is published by the Food Standards Agency alongside the score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Catherine Wheel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill's Restaurants Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2026 |
| Chego's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Ghassans Takeaway/sandwich shop | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 June 2026 |
| BrewBlood Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2025 |
| Caner's Kebabs Mobile caterer | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
| Ghassan Halteh - GP52 EBL Mobile caterer | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2022 |
| Canal Bar & The Old Waggon and Horses Pub/bar/nightclub | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2018 |
| KFC Takeaway/sandwich shop | 154 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 July 2025 |
Questions about The Catherine Wheel
What is The Catherine Wheel's food hygiene rating?
The Catherine Wheel has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by West Berkshire Council on 12 March 2026.
Is The Catherine Wheel safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Catherine Wheel last inspected?
The Catherine Wheel was last inspected on 12 March 2026, 4 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 The Catherine Wheel?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Catherine Wheel compare to other places in West Berkshire?
86% of the 1,090 rated food businesses in West Berkshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Catherine Wheel holds a 2. 12 places in the area share that rating.
Has The Catherine Wheel responded to its rating?
Yes. Businesses have a right to reply, published alongside the rating. The Catherine Wheel said: “<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> <strong>I agree with the inspection results but have since carried out the following improvements (tick all that apply):</strong></p> </td> <td> <p> Establishment has been thoroughly cleaned,Procedures have been put in place to ensure cleanliness is maintained,There is now a new manager and/or new staff,Staff have been trained/re-trained/given instruction</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> &nbsp;</p>”
Who decides the rating?
West Berkshire Council inspects The Catherine Wheel 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 Catherine Wheel 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at West Berkshire, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: West Berkshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Catherine Wheel is one of 383 rated food businesses in Newbury. See every hygiene rating in Newbury →
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 →