The Penny Black food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cherwell
The Penny Black holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 10 August 2022, more than 3 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: 58 Sheep Street, Bicester, OX26 6JW
How it compares in Cherwell
That puts The Penny Black among the 977 places in Cherwell holding top marks, 80% 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 | 977 | 80% | ← The Penny Black | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 157 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 103 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 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 The Penny Black 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 The Penny Black, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee #1 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 12 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2024 |
| Holland and Barrett Retailers - other | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 April 2023 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 42 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2026 |
| Monty's Burger Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2025 |
| Nandos Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Bicester Fresh Fish Fruit & Veg Retailers - other | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 May 2022 |
| Bicester Ex-Servicemans Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2024 |
| Mizu Japanese Izakaya Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 127 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 December 2025 |
Questions about The Penny Black
What is The Penny Black's food hygiene rating?
The Penny Black has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cherwell Council on 10 August 2022.
Is The Penny Black 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Penny Black last inspected?
The Penny Black was last inspected on 10 August 2022, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cherwell Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Penny Black?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Penny Black compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, and The Penny Black is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects The Penny Black 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 Penny Black and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Penny Black is one of 260 rated food businesses in Bicester. See every hygiene rating in Bicester →
Cherwell inspects and rates 1,324 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cherwell →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cherwell.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 →