Helen Browning's Royal Oak food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Swindon
Helen Browning's Royal Oak holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 29 May 2025, 13 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: Cues Lane, Bishopstone, Swindon, SN6 8PP
How it compares in Swindon
In Swindon, 83% of rated places manage a 5, so Helen Browning's Royal Oak sits behind roughly 1,182 nearby businesses. 12% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,182 | 83% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 177 | 12% | ← Helen Browning's Royal Oak | |
| 3 out of 5 | 42 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 6 | <1% |
A further 208 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 Helen Browning's Royal Oak 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 Helen Browning's Royal Oak, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastbrook Farm Organic Meats Ltd (Helen Browning's) Distributors/Transporters | 222 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2024 |
| Alfresco Childcare Caring Premises | 224 yards away | 4 - Good | 18 December 2025 |
| The Rose and Crown Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2024 |
| The Baking Bee at Ashbury Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2026 |
| Burj Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.7 miles away | 4 - Good | 24 January 2025 |
| PGL Travel Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2025 |
| Plough Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2024 |
| The Brewers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 2.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
Questions about Helen Browning's Royal Oak
What is Helen Browning's Royal Oak's food hygiene rating?
Helen Browning's Royal Oak has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Swindon Council on 29 May 2025.
Is Helen Browning's Royal Oak safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Helen Browning's Royal Oak last inspected?
Helen Browning's Royal Oak was last inspected on 29 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swindon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Helen Browning's Royal Oak?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 Helen Browning's Royal Oak compare to other places in Swindon?
83% of the 1,428 rated food businesses in Swindon hold the top rating of 5, while Helen Browning's Royal Oak holds a 4. 177 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Swindon Council inspects Helen Browning's Royal Oak 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 Helen Browning's Royal Oak and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Swindon inspects and rates 1,636 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swindon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.swindon.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 →