Red Lion Hotel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Dorset
Red Lion Hotel 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 28 May 2025, 13 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: Red Lion Hotel High Street, Gillingham, SP8 4AA
How it compares in Dorset
That puts Red Lion Hotel among the 3,808 places in Dorset holding top marks, 95% 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 | 3,808 | 95% | ← Red Lion Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 139 | 3% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 33 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 1,119 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 Red Lion Hotel 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 Red Lion Hotel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chan's Chinese Take-away Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 September 2025 |
| Gillingham Kebab House Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Netplay Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2020 |
| Poppins Cafe Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2024 |
| Rose Cafe and Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 30 January 2025 |
| Kool Things Retailers - other | 51 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Dudley Taylor Retailers - other | 61 yards away | Exempt | |
| Gillingham Community Church Other catering premises | 74 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2024 |
Questions about Red Lion Hotel
What is Red Lion Hotel's food hygiene rating?
Red Lion Hotel has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Dorset Council on 28 May 2025.
Is Red Lion Hotel 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 Red Lion Hotel last inspected?
Red Lion Hotel was last inspected on 28 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Dorset Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Red Lion Hotel?
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 Red Lion Hotel compare to other places in Dorset?
95% of the 3,988 rated food businesses in Dorset hold the top rating of 5, and Red Lion Hotel is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Dorset Council inspects Red Lion Hotel 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 Red Lion Hotel and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Red Lion Hotel is one of 84 rated food businesses in Gillingham. See every hygiene rating in Gillingham →
Dorset inspects and rates 5,107 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Dorset →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.dorsetcouncil.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 →