Milk Bar Reading food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Reading
Milk Bar Reading 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 19 March 2025, 15 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: 8 Merchants Place, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1DT
How it compares in Reading
That puts Milk Bar Reading 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% | ← Milk Bar Reading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Milk Bar Reading 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 Milk Bar Reading, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Local Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Anonymous Coffee Co at Thames Tower Takeaway/sandwich shop | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| Boom Battle Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Black Sheep Coffee Takeaway/sandwich shop | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| Boots UK Ltd at Reading Rail Station Concourse Retailers - other | 177 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Burger King at Reading Rail Station Concourse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 177 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 April 2026 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 181 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
| 7 Flowers & Tea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2019 |
Questions about Milk Bar Reading
What is Milk Bar Reading's food hygiene rating?
Milk Bar Reading has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Reading Council on 19 March 2025.
Is Milk Bar Reading 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 Milk Bar Reading last inspected?
Milk Bar Reading was last inspected on 19 March 2025, 15 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 Milk Bar Reading?
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 Milk Bar Reading compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, and Milk Bar Reading is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects Milk Bar Reading 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 Milk Bar Reading 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 →