The Red Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Oxfordshire
The Red Lion 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 26 February 2026, 4 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: Red Lion, 8 Albion Street, Chipping Norton, OX7 5BJ
How it compares in West Oxfordshire
That puts The Red Lion among the 957 places in West Oxfordshire holding top marks, 94% 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 | 957 | 94% | ← The Red Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 42 | 4% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 110 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 Red Lion 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 Red Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Shack Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2024 |
| The Co-op Retailers - other | 98 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Nash's Bakery Retailers - other | 99 yards away | 4 - Good | 20 December 2024 |
| Cotswold Newsagents Retailers - other | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| Crown & Cushion Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2026 |
| Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe - Chipping Norton Retailers - other | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 February 2020 |
| Oats Retailers - other | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 July 2019 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 102 yards away | 4 - Good | 7 August 2025 |
Questions about The Red Lion
What is The Red Lion's food hygiene rating?
The Red Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Oxfordshire Council on 26 February 2026.
Is The Red Lion 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 Red Lion last inspected?
The Red Lion was last inspected on 26 February 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Oxfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Red Lion?
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 Red Lion compare to other places in West Oxfordshire?
94% of the 1,013 rated food businesses in West Oxfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Red Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Oxfordshire Council inspects The Red Lion 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 Red Lion and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Red Lion is one of 197 rated food businesses in Chipping Norton. See every hygiene rating in Chipping Norton →
West Oxfordshire inspects and rates 1,123 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Oxfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westoxon.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 →