The Oval Fish Bar food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Stevenage
The Oval Fish Bar holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 10 April 2021, more than 5 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: The Oval Fish Bar, 7 The Oval, Stevenage, SG1 5RA
How it compares in Stevenage
That puts The Oval Fish Bar among the 467 places in Stevenage holding top marks, 89% 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 | 467 | 89% | ← The Oval Fish Bar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 41 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 10 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 166 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 Oval Fish Bar 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 Oval Fish Bar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gofiit Nutrition Other catering premises | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 June 2021 |
| Crownfoodstore.co.uk Retailers - other | 320 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2025 |
| Douglas Drive Senior Citizens Caring Premises | 388 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
| Giles Infants School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2026 |
| Giles JM School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2022 |
| Budgens Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
| Dine Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2025 |
Questions about The Oval Fish Bar
What is The Oval Fish Bar's food hygiene rating?
The Oval Fish Bar has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Stevenage Council on 10 April 2021.
Is The Oval Fish Bar 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Oval Fish Bar last inspected?
The Oval Fish Bar was last inspected on 10 April 2021, more than 5 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stevenage Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Oval Fish Bar?
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 Oval Fish Bar compare to other places in Stevenage?
89% of the 527 rated food businesses in Stevenage hold the top rating of 5, and The Oval Fish Bar is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Stevenage Council inspects The Oval Fish Bar 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 Oval Fish Bar 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 Oval Fish Bar is one of 417 rated food businesses in Herts. See every hygiene rating in Herts →
Stevenage inspects and rates 693 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stevenage →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stevenage.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 →