Downshire House food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Reading
Downshire House holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 17 July 2025, 11 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: 9 Downshire Square, Reading, RG1 6NJ
How it compares in Reading
That puts Downshire House 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% | ← Downshire House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Downshire House 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 Downshire House, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beacher Hall Nursing Home Caring Premises | 171 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2026 |
| Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society Maitland House Caring Premises | 190 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
| Berkeley Garden Day Nursery Caring Premises | 336 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Amherst Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 425 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2017 |
| Bow Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2017 |
| Beesknees Day Nursery Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 October 2024 |
| Cafe 12 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Berkshire Vision - RAB Socialeyes Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
Questions about Downshire House
What is Downshire House's food hygiene rating?
Downshire House has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Reading Council on 17 July 2025.
Is Downshire House 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 care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Downshire House last inspected?
Downshire House was last inspected on 17 July 2025, 11 months 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 Downshire House?
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 Downshire House compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, and Downshire House is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects Downshire House 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 Downshire House 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 →