The Blinking Owl Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cherwell
The Blinking Owl Inn 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
This is a fresh result: The Blinking Owl Inn was inspected on 16 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Blinking Owl Inn Main Street, North Newington, OX15 6AE
How it compares in Cherwell
That puts The Blinking Owl Inn 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 Blinking Owl Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Blinking Owl Inn 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 Blinking Owl Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broughton Castle Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2025 |
| Four Stones Cafe At Saltway Farm Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2023 |
| Chartwells @ Wroxton College School/college/university | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2023 |
| Cleverchefs Catering Ltd School/college/university | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2025 |
| Blessed George Napier @ St Josephs School/college/university | 1.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2023 |
| Breakfast & A.S.C. @ Queensway School Other catering premises | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2024 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2022 |
| Hobby Horse Childrens Centre Caring Premises | 1.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2018 |
Questions about The Blinking Owl Inn
What is The Blinking Owl Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Blinking Owl Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cherwell Council on 16 June 2026.
Is The Blinking Owl Inn 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 Blinking Owl Inn last inspected?
The Blinking Owl Inn was last inspected on 16 June 2026, within the last month. 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 Blinking Owl Inn?
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 The Blinking Owl Inn compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, and The Blinking Owl Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects The Blinking Owl Inn 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 Blinking Owl Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →