5

Watson's general telegraph food hygiene rating

Pub/bar/nightclub · Southwark

Watson's general telegraph 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 14 September 2024, 22 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.

Address: Forest Hill Tavern, 108, Forest Hill Road, SE22 0RS

How it compares in Southwark

That puts Watson's general telegraph among the 2,138 places in Southwark holding top marks, 72% 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.

Every rated food business in Southwark
5 out of 5 2,138 72% ← Watson's general telegraph
4 out of 5 535 18%
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

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 Watson's general telegraph 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 Watson's general telegraph, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Aquarius golf club (licensed bar) Pub/bar/nightclub 406 yards away 5 - Very good 24 August 2023
Am supermarket Retailers - other 0.4 miles away 5 - Very good 23 September 2025
Anns preserves and bakes Retailers - other 0.7 miles away 5 - Very good 23 May 2026
148 chinese Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.8 miles away 5 - Very good 12 June 2025
Agua na boca ltd Other catering premises 0.9 miles away 5 - Very good 20 June 2024
Angel oak Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.9 miles away 5 - Very good 28 July 2025
081 pizzeria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 1.0 miles away 5 - Very good 2 July 2025
Alleyn school in house catering School/college/university 1.0 miles away 5 - Very good 3 March 2026

Questions about Watson's general telegraph

What is Watson's general telegraph's food hygiene rating?

Watson's general telegraph has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Southwark Council on 14 September 2024.

Is Watson's general telegraph 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 Watson's general telegraph last inspected?

Watson's general telegraph was last inspected on 14 September 2024, 22 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 Watson's general telegraph?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does Watson's general telegraph compare to other places in Southwark?

72% of the 2,978 rated food businesses in Southwark hold the top rating of 5, and Watson's general telegraph is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Southwark Council inspects Watson's general telegraph 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 Watson's general telegraph 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 →

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 →