Cafe 12 food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Reading
Cafe 12 holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 18 September 2025, 9 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: 143-145 Oxford Road, Reading, RG1 7UY
How it compares in Reading
That puts Cafe 12 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% | ← Cafe 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Cafe 12 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 Cafe 12, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bow Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 99 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2017 |
| Burger Den Takeaway/sandwich shop | 188 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2026 |
| Barista and Beyond Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 260 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2022 |
| Amherst Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 346 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2017 |
| A&S News & Off Licence Retailers - other | 410 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 December 2017 |
| Berkshire Vision - RAB Socialeyes Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
| Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society Maitland House Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
| Cake Box Mobile caterer | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
Questions about Cafe 12
What is Cafe 12's food hygiene rating?
Cafe 12 has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Reading Council on 18 September 2025.
Is Cafe 12 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Cafe 12 last inspected?
Cafe 12 was last inspected on 18 September 2025, 9 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 Cafe 12?
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 Cafe 12 compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, and Cafe 12 is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects Cafe 12 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 Cafe 12 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 →