The Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · West Berkshire
The 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 2 January 2025, 18 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: The Lion 39 West Street, Newbury, RG14 1BD
How it compares in West Berkshire
That puts The Lion among the 931 places in West Berkshire holding top marks, 85% 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 | 931 | 85% | ← The Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 94 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 46 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 163 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 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 Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanese House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2026 |
| Iro Sushi Takeaway/sandwich shop | 168 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 August 2025 |
| Greggs Takeaway/sandwich shop | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2025 |
| Greggs PLC Takeaway/sandwich shop | 191 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2026 |
| Hotel Chocolat Retailers - other | 198 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2012 |
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 204 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2026 |
| Esquires Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 221 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2024 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 223 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
Questions about The Lion
What is The Lion's food hygiene rating?
The Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by West Berkshire Council on 2 January 2025.
Is The 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 Lion last inspected?
The Lion was last inspected on 2 January 2025, 18 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by West Berkshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lion?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Lion compare to other places in West Berkshire?
85% of the 1,090 rated food businesses in West Berkshire hold the top rating of 5, and The Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
West Berkshire Council inspects The 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 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
The Lion is one of 383 rated food businesses in Newbury. See every hygiene rating in Newbury →
West Berkshire inspects and rates 1,253 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in West Berkshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.westberks.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 →