The Old Black Horse food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Oxford City
The Old Black Horse holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 18 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: 102 St Clement's Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1AR
How it compares in Oxford City
That puts The Old Black Horse among the 1,205 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 | 1,205 | 87% | ← The Old Black Horse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very 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 Old Black Horse 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 Old Black Horse, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Gates Damascus Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 70 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| Alban London Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2024 |
| Big Society Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2024 |
| Baltic Food Retailers - other | 208 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2024 |
| Arbequina Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 208 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Abbeyfield Oxford Society Caring Premises | 287 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
| Bigfoot Pub/bar/nightclub | 332 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2026 |
| Afghan Cuisine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2024 |
Questions about The Old Black Horse
What is The Old Black Horse's food hygiene rating?
The Old Black Horse has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Oxford City Council on 18 March 2024.
Is The Old Black Horse 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Old Black Horse last inspected?
The Old Black Horse was last inspected on 18 March 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 Old Black Horse?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Old Black Horse compare to other places in Oxford City?
87% of the 1,380 rated food businesses in Oxford City hold the top rating of 5, and The Old Black Horse is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Oxford City Council inspects The Old Black Horse 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 Old Black Horse 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 1,536 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 →