The Royal Oak food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Oxford City
The Royal Oak 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 7 November 2025, 8 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 42-44 Woodstock Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 6HT
How it compares in Oxford City
That puts The Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beyone Ordinary Cafe - Holder Building School/college/university | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2023 |
| Brown's Bar And Brasserie Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 128 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Al-Andalus Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 188 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 January 2024 |
| Angels Cocktail Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 200 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 August 2021 |
| BaxterStorey - Blavatnik School Of Government Mobile caterer | 208 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| Branca Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 402 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| 100121367388 School/college/university | 436 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2023 |
| Al-Shami Lebanese Restaurant And Richmond Hotel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2024 |
Questions about The Royal Oak
What is The Royal Oak's food hygiene rating?
The Royal Oak has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Oxford City Council on 7 November 2025.
Is The Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak last inspected?
The Royal Oak was last inspected on 7 November 2025, 8 months 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 Royal Oak?
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 Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Oxford City Council inspects The Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak 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 →