Cowley’s quirky community pub The Rusty Bicycle, has scored top marks on its latest food hygiene rating.

The pub located on 28 Magdalen Road is owned by the Dodo Pub Company and it has recently reopened its doors for punters to enjoy food and drinks outside.

Food hygiene inspectors from Oxford City Council visited the pub unannounced on April 7.

Inspectors gave the pub the highest possible rating of five stars.

The Rusty Bicycle was given a mark of ‘good’ for ‘Food Hygiene and Safety’ and ‘Structural Compliance’ and a score of ‘high’ in the category ‘Confidence in Management’.

The pub won its five stars back in January 2019 after The Magdalen Road business had dropped down to three stars in 2018 after concerns were raised over how burger patties were being prepared.

At the time Dodo blamed the rating on a failure to update paperwork.

Despite the lower rating in 2018 The Rusty Bicycle, which opened in 2009, has proved popular with customers due to its relaxed atmosphere and food.

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Now the pub has had a five star food hygiene rating for just over two years.

Owners of the neighbourhood pub are happy to be back after lockdown and serving their Neapolitan pizzas, award winning burgers and beer.

The pub garden has been full since the restrictions eased on April 12 and the pub is taking bookings and walk ins for those who spontaneously decide to visit The Rusty Bicycle.

The Cowley pub's Facebook page is full of pictures of punters enjoying the sun in the pub garden this month.

A member of staff wrote on the Rusty Bicycle Facebook page thanking their customers and said: "We wanted to take this moment to thank you all for coming to see us this weekend. It’s been... busy.

"We also really appreciate all of you sticking to our rules and making it able for us to provide you with a safe space to have a good old laugh in."

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The pub is now open Monday to Friday 5pm-10pm and Saturday to Sunday 12pm to 10pm.

Table booking are available for tables of four or more for food only.

The Rusty Bicycle food is available on Deliveroo and via their click and collect service.

The Dodo pub company also offers a selection of 'home bake' pizzas on their online shop as an alternative to takeaway. The pizzas are 'nearly' cooked so customers can finish them off in their oven at home.

Dodo house cocktails are also available on their website shop for an at home Margarita or Negroni.

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