The Old Bookbinder's Ale House food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Oxford City
The Old Bookbinder's Ale House 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 21 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: The Bookbinders Arms, 17-18 Victor Street, Oxford, OX2 6BT
How it compares in Oxford City
That puts The Old Bookbinder's Ale House 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 Bookbinder's Ale House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Old Bookbinder's Ale House 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 Bookbinder's Ale House, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brasserie Blanc Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 March 2026 |
| Branca Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 303 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| Al-Shami Lebanese Restaurant And Richmond Hotel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 346 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2024 |
| BaxterStorey - Blavatnik School Of Government Mobile caterer | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Al-Andalus Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 January 2024 |
| Angels Cocktail Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 August 2021 |
| Brown's Bar And Brasserie Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Baxterstorey At Said Business School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2026 |
Questions about The Old Bookbinder's Ale House
What is The Old Bookbinder's Ale House's food hygiene rating?
The Old Bookbinder's Ale House has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Oxford City Council on 21 March 2024.
Is The Old Bookbinder's Ale House 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 Old Bookbinder's Ale House last inspected?
The Old Bookbinder's Ale House was last inspected on 21 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 Bookbinder's Ale House?
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 The Old Bookbinder's Ale House 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 Bookbinder's Ale House is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Oxford City Council inspects The Old Bookbinder's Ale House 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 Bookbinder's Ale House 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 →