The Royal Oak food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Tonbridge and Malling
The Royal 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
This is a fresh result: The Royal Oak was inspected on 5 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: The Royal Oak, 82 Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge, TN10 3ED
How it compares in Tonbridge and Malling
That puts The Royal Oak among the 760 places in Tonbridge and Malling holding top marks, 79% 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 | 760 | 79% | ← The Royal Oak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 129 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 56 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 81 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 The Royal 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 Royal Oak, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| George And Dragon Pub/bar/nightclub | 406 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2025 |
| Marine Fish Bar Other catering premises | 406 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2025 |
| Compass At Tonbridge School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2025 |
| Castle Court (White Oaks) Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2025 |
| Caterlink At Oakley School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2024 |
| Fuggles Beer Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| City Market Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 July 2025 |
| Emma's Kitchen At Slade Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2025 |
Questions about The Royal Oak
What is The Royal Oak's food hygiene rating?
The Royal Oak has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Tonbridge and Malling Council on 5 June 2026.
Is The Royal 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 Royal Oak last inspected?
The Royal Oak was last inspected on 5 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tonbridge and Malling Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Royal Oak?
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 The Royal Oak compare to other places in Tonbridge and Malling?
79% of the 963 rated food businesses in Tonbridge and Malling hold the top rating of 5, and The Royal Oak is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Tonbridge and Malling Council inspects The Royal 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 Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak is one of 327 rated food businesses in Tonbridge. See every hygiene rating in Tonbridge →
Tonbridge and Malling inspects and rates 1,044 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tonbridge and Malling →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.tmbc.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 →