The Kings Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Oxford City
The Kings Arms 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 9 January 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: Kings Arms Hotel 40 Holywell Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3SP
How it compares in Oxford City
That puts The Kings Arms among the 1,206 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 | 1,206 | 87% | ← The Kings Arms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 156 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 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 Kings Arms 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 Kings Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Place Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Alternative Tuck Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 128 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Bodleian Libraries Shops Retailers - other | 149 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2020 |
| Brasenose College School/college/university | 231 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| Balliol College JCR Pantry Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 236 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2024 |
| All Souls College School/college/university | 302 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 November 2024 |
| Bird & Blend Tea Co Retailers - other | 324 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2025 |
| Brown's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 333 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2025 |
Questions about The Kings Arms
What is The Kings Arms's food hygiene rating?
The Kings Arms has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Oxford City Council on 9 January 2024.
Is The Kings Arms 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 Kings Arms last inspected?
The Kings Arms was last inspected on 9 January 2024, more than 2 years 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 The Kings Arms?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Kings Arms compare to other places in Oxford City?
87% of the 1,381 rated food businesses in Oxford City hold the top rating of 5, and The Kings Arms is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Oxford City Council inspects The Kings Arms 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 Kings Arms 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 1,537 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 →