The Royal Oak food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Central Bedfordshire
The Royal Oak holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 10 August 2021, more than 4 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: Bedford Road, Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire, MK45 4JX
How it compares in Central Bedfordshire
In Central Bedfordshire, 76% of rated places manage a 5, so The Royal Oak sits behind roughly 1,153 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,153 | 76% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 254 | 17% | ← The Royal Oak | |
| 3 out of 5 | 83 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 189 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meedou Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 148 yards away | 4 - Good | 26 February 2026 |
| Haute Shish Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 160 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Barton Rovers Football Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 November 2021 |
| Morrisons Daily Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 December 2023 |
| Passage to India Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 243 yards away | 4 - Good | 3 December 2025 |
| The Bull Pub/bar/nightclub | 248 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Co-operative Group Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 248 yards away | 4 - Good | 27 August 2025 |
| Roger's Bakery Retailers - other | 248 yards away | 4 - Good | 12 March 2026 |
Questions about The Royal Oak
What is The Royal Oak's food hygiene rating?
The Royal Oak has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Central Bedfordshire Council on 10 August 2021.
Is The Royal Oak safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Royal Oak last inspected?
The Royal Oak was last inspected on 10 August 2021, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Central Bedfordshire 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 "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Royal Oak compare to other places in Central Bedfordshire?
76% of the 1,520 rated food businesses in Central Bedfordshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Royal Oak holds a 4. 254 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Central Bedfordshire 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 28 rated food businesses in Barton-le-Clay. See every hygiene rating in Barton-le-Clay →
Central Bedfordshire inspects and rates 1,709 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Central Bedfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.centralbedfordshire.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 →