The White Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Winchester City
The White Lion 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 25 July 2024, 23 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: School Hill, Soberton, Southampton, SO32 3PF
How it compares in Winchester City
That puts The White Lion among the 966 places in Winchester City holding top marks, 89% 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.
| 5 out of 5 | 966 | 89% | ← The White Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 91 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 20 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 85 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
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 White Lion 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 White Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilfrid's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 February 2026 |
| Droxford Post Office And Stores Retailers - other | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2019 |
| Bakers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 1.1 miles away | 4 - Good | 4 March 2025 |
| Borderlands Bakehouse Manufacturers/packers | 1.2 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2025 |
| Merington Store Retailers - other | 1.3 miles away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 13 December 2024 |
| Earth To Oven Mobile caterer | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 May 2025 |
| Fat Hog & Big Pan Catering Other catering premises | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| N&D Sweet Dreams (Desserts) Mobile caterer | 1.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2025 |
Questions about The White Lion
What is The White Lion's food hygiene rating?
The White Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Winchester City Council on 25 July 2024.
Is The White Lion 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 The White Lion last inspected?
The White Lion was last inspected on 25 July 2024, 23 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Winchester City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The White Lion?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 The White Lion compare to other places in Winchester City?
89% of the 1,084 rated food businesses in Winchester City hold the top rating of 5, and The White Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Winchester City Council inspects The White Lion 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 White Lion and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Winchester City inspects and rates 1,169 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Winchester City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.winchester.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 →