The Oliver Twist food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · North Northamptonshire
The Oliver Twist 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
The rating dates from 12 February 2025, 17 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: 96 High Street, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, NN9 5PX
How it compares in North Northamptonshire
A 1 is rare: only 28 of 2,804 rated places in North Northamptonshire score this low, about one in 100. By contrast 85% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,391 | 85% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 283 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 75 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 26 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 28 | 1% | ← The Oliver Twist | |
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 289 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 The Oliver Twist 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 The Oliver Twist, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Star Takeaway/sandwich shop | 96 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2026 |
| Cando Care Co-Operative CIC Caring Premises | 163 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2021 |
| G & P Coffee House Retailers - other | 319 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| Golden Harvest Takeaway/sandwich shop | 319 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2025 |
| Favourite Chicken & Ribs Takeaway/sandwich shop | 350 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2025 |
| Heron Foods Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 368 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2024 |
| College Street Centre Caring Premises | 378 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2026 |
| Fun 4 All At Irthlingborough Junior School School/college/university | 381 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
Questions about The Oliver Twist
What is The Oliver Twist's food hygiene rating?
The Oliver Twist has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by North Northamptonshire Council on 12 February 2025.
Is The Oliver Twist 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 The Oliver Twist last inspected?
The Oliver Twist was last inspected on 12 February 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Northamptonshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Oliver Twist?
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 The Oliver Twist compare to other places in North Northamptonshire?
85% of the 2,804 rated food businesses in North Northamptonshire hold the top rating of 5, while The Oliver Twist holds a 1. 28 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
North Northamptonshire Council inspects The Oliver Twist 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 Oliver Twist 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 North Northamptonshire, 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: North Northamptonshire
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Oliver Twist is one of 23 rated food businesses in Irthlingborough. See every hygiene rating in Irthlingborough →
North Northamptonshire inspects and rates 3,093 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Northamptonshire →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.northnorthants.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 →