The Black Swan food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Vale of White Horse
The Black Swan 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 4 March 2024, more than 2 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: 17 Bath Street Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3QH
How it compares in Vale of White Horse
That puts The Black Swan among the 764 places in Vale of White Horse holding top marks, 81% 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 | 764 | 81% | ← The Black Swan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 115 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 49 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 102 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 Black Swan 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 Black Swan, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delicatessen Caffe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Oxford Grazing Co Deli Other catering premises | 38 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2026 |
| The Gathering Space Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 56 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2025 |
| Boots UK Retailers - other | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2023 |
| Narrows Pub/bar/nightclub | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Papa Johns Takeaway/sandwich shop | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2025 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Ask Italian / Coco Di Mama Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
Questions about The Black Swan
What is The Black Swan's food hygiene rating?
The Black Swan has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Vale of White Horse Council on 4 March 2024.
Is The Black Swan 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 Black Swan last inspected?
The Black Swan was last inspected on 4 March 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Vale of White Horse Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Black Swan?
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 Black Swan compare to other places in Vale of White Horse?
81% of the 940 rated food businesses in Vale of White Horse hold the top rating of 5, and The Black Swan is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Vale of White Horse Council inspects The Black Swan 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 Black Swan 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 Black Swan is one of 274 rated food businesses in Oxon. See every hygiene rating in Oxon →
Vale of White Horse inspects and rates 1,042 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Vale of White Horse →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.whitehorsedc.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 →