City Arms Oxford food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Oxford City
City Arms Oxford holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 31 March 2026, 3 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: The City Arms, 288 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UR
How it compares in Oxford City
That puts City Arms Oxford among the 1,207 places in Oxford City holding top marks, 87% 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 | 1,207 | 87% | ← City Arms Oxford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 116 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 32 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 151 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 City Arms Oxford 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 City Arms Oxford, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amigos Burritos Mexican Kitchen Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2026 |
| Cafe Baba Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 192 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2024 |
| Antep Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 193 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Bodrum Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 193 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2025 |
| Alders Butchers Retailers - other | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2025 |
| Afghan Cuisine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2024 |
| Bigfoot Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2026 |
| Arbequina Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
Questions about City Arms Oxford
What is City Arms Oxford's food hygiene rating?
City Arms Oxford has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Oxford City Council on 31 March 2026.
Is City Arms Oxford 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was City Arms Oxford last inspected?
City Arms Oxford was last inspected on 31 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Oxford City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at City Arms Oxford?
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 City Arms Oxford compare to other places in Oxford City?
87% of the 1,382 rated food businesses in Oxford City hold the top rating of 5, and City Arms Oxford is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Oxford City Council inspects City Arms Oxford 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 City Arms Oxford and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Oxford City inspects and rates 1,533 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Oxford City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.oxford.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 →