The Dovetail food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Islington
The Dovetail holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub 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 9 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: The Dovetail, Basement And Ground Floor, 9-10 Jerusalem Passage, EC1V 4JP
How it compares in Islington
In Islington, 64% of rated places manage a 5, so The Dovetail sits behind roughly 1,536 nearby businesses. 20% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,536 | 64% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 470 | 20% | ← The Dovetail | |
| 3 out of 5 | 265 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 48 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 179 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Dovetail 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 Dovetail, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Generation Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2022 |
| 1930 Coffee Company Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2026 |
| 1a Children's Centre Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| 56 WS Wine Bar & Shop Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2022 |
| 21 West Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2025 |
| 87 Barts Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| A Pinch of Salt Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2026 |
| A J News Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2018 |
Questions about The Dovetail
What is The Dovetail's food hygiene rating?
The Dovetail has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Islington Council on 9 February 2024.
Is The Dovetail 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 pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Dovetail last inspected?
The Dovetail was last inspected on 9 February 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Islington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Dovetail?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Dovetail compare to other places in Islington?
64% of the 2,408 rated food businesses in Islington hold the top rating of 5, while The Dovetail holds a 4. 470 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Islington Council inspects The Dovetail 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 Dovetail 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 Dovetail is one of 93 rated food businesses in Basement and Ground Floor. See every hygiene rating in Basement and Ground Floor →
Islington inspects and rates 2,587 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Islington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.islington.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 →