Cowley Retreat food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Oxford City
Cowley Retreat 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 10 January 2024, more than 2 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: 172 Cowley Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1UE
How it compares in Oxford City
That puts Cowley Retreat among the 1,206 places in Oxford City holding top marks, 87% 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 | 1,206 | 87% | ← Cowley Retreat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 116 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 32 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 156 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 Very 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 Cowley Retreat 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 Cowley Retreat, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghan Cuisine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2024 |
| Alders Butchers Retailers - other | 206 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2025 |
| Antep Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 267 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Bodrum Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 267 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2025 |
| Cafe Baba Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 267 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2024 |
| Bigfoot Pub/bar/nightclub | 301 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2026 |
| Arbequina Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 436 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Baltic Food Retailers - other | 436 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2024 |
Questions about Cowley Retreat
What is Cowley Retreat's food hygiene rating?
Cowley Retreat has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Oxford City Council on 10 January 2024.
Is Cowley Retreat 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 Cowley Retreat last inspected?
Cowley Retreat was last inspected on 10 January 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Oxford City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Cowley Retreat?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Cowley Retreat compare to other places in Oxford City?
87% of the 1,381 rated food businesses in Oxford City hold the top rating of 5, and Cowley Retreat is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Oxford City Council inspects Cowley Retreat 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 Cowley Retreat and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Oxford City inspects and rates 1,537 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Oxford City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.oxford.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 →