White Horse food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Cherwell
White Horse holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This rating dates from 6 February 2025, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: 50 - 52 North Bar Street, Banbury, OX16 0TH
How it compares in Cherwell
A 1 is rare: only 6 of 1,221 rated places in Cherwell score this low, about one in 204. By contrast 80% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 977 | 80% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 157 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ← White Horse | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 103 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 White Horse the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to White Horse, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bao Giang Oriental Supermarket Retailers - other | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2021 |
| 3flavours Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 68 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2024 |
| Dog And Gun Pub/bar/nightclub | 80 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 March 2023 |
| Ash&Flame Steakhouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Also Known As Pub/bar/nightclub | 143 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 February 2023 |
| Gibney Event Catering (Smash Cow Kitchen) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 166 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2026 |
| Good game ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 195 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2023 |
| Caprinos Pizza Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 198 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
Questions about White Horse
What is White Horse's food hygiene rating?
White Horse has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Cherwell Council on 6 February 2025.
Is White Horse safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was White Horse last inspected?
White Horse was last inspected on 6 February 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cherwell Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at White Horse?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does White Horse compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, while White Horse holds a 1. 6 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects White Horse 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 White Horse and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Cherwell, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Cherwell
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
White Horse is one of 389 rated food businesses in Banbury. See every hygiene rating in Banbury →
Cherwell inspects and rates 1,324 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cherwell →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cherwell.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 →