The Oval Cafe

Ambrose Lane

Food hygiene rating 3 / 5 · Generally satisfactory

Middle of the road

A 3 out of 5 is generally satisfactory - perfectly fine, but with a bit of room to improve.

The breakdown

Hygiene Generally satisfactory Cleanliness & condition Good Confidence in management Generally satisfactory

Last inspected on 21 January 2026 by St Albans City.

What does this rating mean?

The Oval Cafe in Ambrose Lane has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory). On the Food Standards Agency scale, 5 is the best and 0 is the worst. A 3 out of 5 is generally satisfactory. Standards were acceptable, but the inspector noted some room for improvement.

The rating reflects standards found at the last inspection. It is not a verdict on how the food tastes - it scores how well the business manages food safety. How often a place is inspected depends on its risk: lower-rated and higher-risk businesses are revisited more often than spotless ones.

Where is it?

The Clock Building,
6 Highfield Oval,
Ambrose Lane,
Harpenden,
AL5 4FB

This is the official Food Standards Agency hygiene badge for The Oval Cafe. The data is published by the FSA under the Open Government Licence.

Who inspects The Oval Cafe?

Food hygiene at The Oval Cafe is inspected by St Albans City, the local authority responsible for this area. You can reach them at http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/business/Health-and-safety/food-safety/foodHygieneRating.aspx or [email protected].

Questions about The Oval Cafe

What is The Oval Cafe’s food hygiene rating?

The Oval Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (Generally satisfactory), based on its last Food Standards Agency inspection on 21 January 2026.

When was The Oval Cafe last inspected?

The Oval Cafe was last inspected by St Albans City on 21 January 2026.

Is a 3 out of 5 hygiene rating good?

A 3 out of 5 is generally satisfactory. Standards were acceptable, but the inspector noted some room for improvement.

What do the food hygiene scores mean?

The rating combines three checks made on the day of the inspection: how hygienically food is handled, the cleanliness and condition of the premises, and how confident the inspector is that management will keep standards up. A higher overall score, from 0 up to 5, means fewer problems were found.