The Oak food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Wakefield
The Oak holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 3 March 2025, 16 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: Mill Lane, South Elmsall, Pontefract, WF9 2DT
How it compares in Wakefield
That puts The Oak among the 2,111 places in Wakefield holding top marks, 78% 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 | 2,111 | 78% | ← The Oak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 437 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 86 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 36 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 360 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 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 Oak 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 Oak, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspens Services Limited School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2024 |
| Bennett Court Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 March 2026 |
| Happy Days Childrens Centre School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Compass Group Uk & Ireland Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2024 |
| High Street Stores Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2017 |
| Hannah's Big Bites Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2025 |
| Gateway Staff Shop Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2024 |
| Jakes Place Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2022 |
Questions about The Oak
What is The Oak's food hygiene rating?
The Oak has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Wakefield Council on 3 March 2025.
Is The Oak 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Oak last inspected?
The Oak was last inspected on 3 March 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Wakefield Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Oak?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Oak compare to other places in Wakefield?
78% of the 2,692 rated food businesses in Wakefield hold the top rating of 5, and The Oak is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Wakefield Council inspects The Oak 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 Oak 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
The Oak is one of 642 rated food businesses in Pontefract. See every hygiene rating in Pontefract →
Wakefield inspects and rates 3,052 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Wakefield →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.wakefield.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 →