The Herb Farm food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · South Oxfordshire
The Herb Farm 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 1 February 2022, more than 4 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 Herb Farm Peppard Road, Sonning Common, Reading, RG4 9NJ
How it compares in South Oxfordshire
That puts The Herb Farm 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% | ← The Herb Farm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Herb Farm 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 Herb Farm, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierreponts Cafe at The Herb Farm Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2024 |
| Operation Friendship Other catering premises | 276 yards away | Exempt | |
| Little Petals Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2025 |
| Hot Wok Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 27 May 2026 |
| Tandoori Connoisseur Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 28 August 2025 |
| The Common Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 4 - Good | 24 July 2025 |
| B&B Local Ltd Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2024 |
| One Stop Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2025 |
Questions about The Herb Farm
What is The Herb Farm's food hygiene rating?
The Herb Farm has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Oxfordshire Council on 1 February 2022.
Is The Herb Farm 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 The Herb Farm last inspected?
The Herb Farm was last inspected on 1 February 2022, more than 4 years 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 The Herb Farm?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Herb Farm 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 The Herb Farm is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Oxfordshire Council inspects The Herb Farm 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 Herb Farm and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Herb Farm is one of 22 rated food businesses in Sonning Common. See every hygiene rating in Sonning Common →
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 →