5

Waitrose food hygiene rating

Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Oxford City

Waitrose holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 1 August 2018, more than 7 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: 9 - 11 Old High Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 9HP

How it compares in Oxford City

That puts Waitrose 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.

Every rated food business in Oxford City
5 out of 5 1,206 87% ← Waitrose
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

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 Waitrose 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 Waitrose, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Babylon House Of Shawarma Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 123 yards away 5 - Very good 1 May 2024
Cafe Bonjour Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 181 yards away 5 - Very good 4 September 2025
Asian Mama The Chinese Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 181 yards away 5 - Very good 22 August 2024
Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 184 yards away 5 - Very good 25 June 2025
Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other 262 yards away 5 - Very good 16 April 2024
Beirut Lebanese Other catering premises 294 yards away 5 - Very good 9 December 2024
Bhoomi Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 407 yards away 5 - Very good 24 July 2024
ABC Nursery Caring Premises 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 4 September 2025

Questions about Waitrose

What is Waitrose's food hygiene rating?

Waitrose has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Oxford City Council on 1 August 2018.

Is Waitrose 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was Waitrose last inspected?

Waitrose was last inspected on 1 August 2018, more than 7 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 Waitrose?

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 Waitrose 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 Waitrose is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Oxford City Council inspects Waitrose 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 Waitrose and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →

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 →