White Lion Heptonstall food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Calderdale
White Lion Heptonstall 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 16 March 2026, 3 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: White Lion Inn, 58 Towngate, Heptonstall, HX7 7NB
How it compares in Calderdale
A 2 is rare: only 46 of 1,707 rated places in Calderdale score this low, about one in 37. By contrast 75% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,288 | 75% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 213 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 138 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 46 | 3% | ← White Lion Heptonstall | |
| 1 out of 5 | 19 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 193 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 White Lion Heptonstall the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and 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 White Lion Heptonstall, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cross Inn Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 41 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| Heptonstall Post Office Retailers - other | 63 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 May 2024 |
| Towngate Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Streatza Mobile caterer | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
| Calderfood Support Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 April 2025 |
| Hebden Royd CE (A) Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 July 2024 |
| Hebden Bridge Hummus Mobile caterer | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 May 2024 |
| Waterside Gym Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 October 2023 |
Questions about White Lion Heptonstall
What is White Lion Heptonstall's food hygiene rating?
White Lion Heptonstall has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Calderdale Council on 16 March 2026.
Is White Lion Heptonstall 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 White Lion Heptonstall last inspected?
White Lion Heptonstall was last inspected on 16 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Calderdale Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at White Lion Heptonstall?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does White Lion Heptonstall compare to other places in Calderdale?
75% of the 1,707 rated food businesses in Calderdale hold the top rating of 5, while White Lion Heptonstall holds a 2. 46 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Calderdale Council inspects White Lion Heptonstall 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 White Lion Heptonstall 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 Calderdale, 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: Calderdale
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
White Lion Heptonstall is one of 153 rated food businesses in Hebden Bridge. See every hygiene rating in Hebden Bridge →
Calderdale inspects and rates 1,900 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Calderdale →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.calderdale.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 →