The White Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · South Cambridgeshire
The White 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 8 November 2022, more than 3 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: 96 High Street, Sawston, CB22 3HJ
How it compares in South Cambridgeshire
That puts The White Lion among the 1,063 places in South Cambridgeshire holding top marks, 87% 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 | 1,063 | 87% | ← The White Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 120 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 95 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 Good
- 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 White 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 White Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mayflower Takeaway/sandwich shop | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2025 |
| Kaz's Indian Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| Victor Victoria Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2026 |
| Boswells Retailers - other | 191 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 202 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2024 |
| Green Weigh Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| B Searle & Sons Retailers - other | 216 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Sweet Tea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 216 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
Questions about The White Lion
What is The White Lion's food hygiene rating?
The White Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Cambridgeshire Council on 8 November 2022.
Is The White 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 White Lion last inspected?
The White Lion was last inspected on 8 November 2022, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Cambridgeshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The White Lion?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The White Lion compare to other places in South Cambridgeshire?
87% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in South Cambridgeshire hold the top rating of 5, and The White Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Cambridgeshire Council inspects The White 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 White 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 White Lion is one of 41 rated food businesses in Sawston. See every hygiene rating in Sawston →
South Cambridgeshire inspects and rates 1,316 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Cambridgeshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.scambs.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 →