The empire food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Southwark
The empire holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the business are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 14 October 2025, 9 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: Unit 2, 777, Old Kent Road, SE15 1NZ
How it compares in Southwark
In Southwark, 72% of rated places manage a 5, so The empire sits behind roughly 2,138 nearby businesses. 18% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,138 | 72% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 535 | 18% | ← The empire | |
| 3 out of 5 | 226 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 56 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 251 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 Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 empire 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 empire, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi stores limited Retailers - other | 222 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2026 |
| Afrikiko restaurant and night club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 260 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2025 |
| Alhaji suya Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 September 2024 |
| Agrobeso Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2024 |
| Alanya Steak & Kebab House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| 2ts cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2026 |
| Abbeville cafe & bites Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2022 |
| 5 Steps Community Nursery Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
Questions about The empire
What is The empire's food hygiene rating?
The empire has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Southwark Council on 14 October 2025.
Is The empire safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this business to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The empire last inspected?
The empire was last inspected on 14 October 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southwark Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The empire?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The empire compare to other places in Southwark?
72% of the 2,978 rated food businesses in Southwark hold the top rating of 5, while The empire holds a 4. 535 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Southwark Council inspects The empire 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 empire and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Southwark inspects and rates 3,229 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southwark →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southwark.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 →