Waitrose food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · South Oxfordshire
Waitrose holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 9 May 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: 1 St Martins Street, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 0EF
How it compares in South Oxfordshire
That puts Waitrose 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% | ← Waitrose | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Waitrose 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 Waitrose, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Daily at Waitrose Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2025 |
| Chinese Whisper Takeaway/sandwich shop | 50 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2025 |
| Mollie's Cafe Wallingford Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 51 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 23 April 2025 |
| Dominos Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2025 |
| Delhi Brasserie Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Eat@East Cafe Takeaway/sandwich shop | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2025 |
| Jim Beans Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 62 yards away | 4 - Good | 5 December 2023 |
| Truly Scrumptious Bakery Retailers - other | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 October 2023 |
Questions about Waitrose
What is Waitrose's food hygiene rating?
Waitrose has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Oxfordshire Council on 9 May 2024.
Is Waitrose 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 supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Waitrose last inspected?
Waitrose was last inspected on 9 May 2024, more than 2 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 Waitrose?
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 Waitrose 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 Waitrose is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Oxfordshire Council inspects Waitrose 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 Waitrose and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Waitrose 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 →