Amherst food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · Reading
Amherst holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the hotel met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 16 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: 73 Russell Street, Reading, RG1 7XG
How it compares in Reading
That puts Amherst among the 881 places in Reading holding top marks, 65% 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 | 881 | 65% | ← Amherst | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 248 | 18% | ||
| 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 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 Amherst 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 Amherst, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bow Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 251 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2017 |
| Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society Maitland House Caring Premises | 297 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
| Berkshire Vision - RAB Socialeyes Other catering premises | 317 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
| Cafe 12 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 346 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Burger Den Takeaway/sandwich shop | 414 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2026 |
| Barista and Beyond Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2022 |
| Berkeley Garden Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Beacher Hall Nursing Home Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2026 |
Questions about Amherst
What is Amherst's food hygiene rating?
Amherst has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Reading Council on 16 November 2017.
Is Amherst 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 hotel to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Amherst last inspected?
Amherst was last inspected on 16 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 Amherst?
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 Amherst compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, and Amherst is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects Amherst 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 Amherst 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 →