The Hop Leaf food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Reading
The Hop Leaf holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 8 November 2017, more than 8 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: 163 Southampton Street, Reading, RG1 2QZ
How it compares in Reading
In Reading, 65% of rated places manage a 5, so The Hop Leaf sits behind roughly 881 nearby businesses. 18% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 881 | 65% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 248 | 18% | ← The Hop Leaf | |
| 3 out of 5 | 148 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 155 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Hop Leaf 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 Hop Leaf, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo Youth Club Caring Premises | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2025 |
| Big Bazaar Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 364 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 April 2026 |
| Ahmed Superstore Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 416 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2024 |
| Calico Bar & Eatery at Hotel 1843 Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Artisan Loaf Makers Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2025 |
| Auntie Anne's Pretzels at The Oracle Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
| BB's Bakers & Baristas Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2026 |
| Ben's Cookies at The Oracle Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2018 |
Questions about The Hop Leaf
What is The Hop Leaf's food hygiene rating?
The Hop Leaf has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Reading Council on 8 November 2017.
Is The Hop Leaf safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Hop Leaf last inspected?
The Hop Leaf was last inspected on 8 November 2017, more than 8 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Reading Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Hop Leaf?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Hop Leaf compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, while The Hop Leaf holds a 4. 248 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects The Hop Leaf 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 Hop Leaf and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Reading inspects and rates 1,517 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Reading →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.reading.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 →