The Castle Tap Public House food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Reading
The Castle Tap Public House 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 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: 120 Castle Street, Reading, RG1 7RJ
How it compares in Reading
That puts The Castle Tap Public 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% | ← The Castle Tap Public 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 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 Castle Tap Public 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 The Castle Tap Public House, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Vision - RAB Socialeyes Other catering premises | 20 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 February 2025 |
| Amherst Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 301 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2017 |
| Bow Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 356 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2017 |
| Burger Den Takeaway/sandwich shop | 364 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 April 2026 |
| Caterlink at Coley Primary School School/college/university | 380 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2024 |
| Blue Collar Corner Pub/bar/nightclub | 382 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| Cake Box Mobile caterer | 423 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
| Bar Iguana Pub/bar/nightclub | 429 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2025 |
Questions about The Castle Tap Public House
What is The Castle Tap Public House's food hygiene rating?
The Castle Tap Public House has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Reading Council on 18 September 2025.
Is The Castle Tap Public 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Castle Tap Public House last inspected?
The Castle Tap Public House 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 The Castle Tap Public House?
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 Castle Tap Public House compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, and The Castle Tap Public House is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects The Castle Tap Public 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 The Castle Tap Public 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 →