Central Co-operative food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · South Oxfordshire
Central Co-operative holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 23 April 2025, 14 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: 50 Couching Street, Watlington, Oxon, OX49 5PU
How it compares in South Oxfordshire
That puts Central Co-operative among the 808 places in South Oxfordshire holding top marks, 71% 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 | 808 | 71% | ← Central Co-operative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 186 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 120 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 116 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 Central Co-operative 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 Central Co-operative, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingfisher Fish & Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 36 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 4 February 2026 |
| So Sustainable Retailers - other | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2020 |
| Calnan Brothers Retailers - other | 50 yards away | 4 - Good | 20 August 2025 |
| House of Spice Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 56 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 8 October 2025 |
| Ox Club Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 64 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 23 January 2026 |
| The Granary Cafe Retailers - other | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2023 |
| Oxfordshire Pies Retailers - other | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2025 |
| The Granary Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
Questions about Central Co-operative
What is Central Co-operative's food hygiene rating?
Central Co-operative has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Oxfordshire Council on 23 April 2025.
Is Central Co-operative 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Central Co-operative last inspected?
Central Co-operative was last inspected on 23 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Oxfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Central Co-operative?
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 Central Co-operative compare to other places in South Oxfordshire?
71% of the 1,136 rated food businesses in South Oxfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and Central Co-operative is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Oxfordshire Council inspects Central Co-operative 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 Central Co-operative and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Central Co-operative is one of 430 rated food businesses in Oxon. See every hygiene rating in Oxon →
South Oxfordshire inspects and rates 1,252 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Oxfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.southoxon.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 →