The Plimsoll food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Islington
The Plimsoll holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 22 November 2024, 19 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 Plimsoll, Ground Floor, 52 St Thomas's Road, N4 2QW
How it compares in Islington
A 2 is rare: only 88 of 2,408 rated places in Islington score this low, about one in 27. By contrast 64% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,536 | 64% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 470 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 265 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ← The Plimsoll | |
| 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 Plimsoll the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Plimsoll, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral Casino Retailers - other | 258 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2019 |
| Admiral Casino Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 414 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2023 |
| Alby's Pizza Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 429 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2024 |
| Admas Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2025 |
| Aetos Greek Taverna Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2025 |
| Addis food & wine Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2018 |
| Aberdeen Park Nursery Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 November 2024 |
| Afrikana Holloway Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2025 |
Questions about The Plimsoll
What is The Plimsoll's food hygiene rating?
The Plimsoll has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Islington Council on 22 November 2024.
Is The Plimsoll safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Plimsoll last inspected?
The Plimsoll was last inspected on 22 November 2024, 19 months 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 Plimsoll?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Plimsoll compare to other places in Islington?
64% of the 2,408 rated food businesses in Islington hold the top rating of 5, while The Plimsoll holds a 2. 88 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Islington Council inspects The Plimsoll 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 Plimsoll 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Islington, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Islington
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Plimsoll is one of 264 rated food businesses in Ground Floor. See every hygiene rating in 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 →