Red Lantern food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Southend-On-Sea
Red Lantern holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 21 January 2025, 17 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: 157 The Broadway, Thorpe Bay, Essex, SS1 3EX
How it compares in Southend-On-Sea
That puts Red Lantern among the 972 places in Southend-On-Sea holding top marks, 70% 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 | 972 | 70% | ← Red Lantern | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 244 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 119 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 35 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 105 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 Red Lantern 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 Lantern, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Masala Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2023 |
| Broadway Fruits Retailers - other | 126 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2024 |
| Bournes Green Service Station Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2025 |
| Bournes Green Stores Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2023 |
| Boulevard Lodge Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Camp 4 Champs School/college/university | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2024 |
| Biffins Caring Premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2025 |
Questions about Red Lantern
What is Red Lantern's food hygiene rating?
Red Lantern has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Southend-On-Sea Council on 21 January 2025.
Is Red Lantern 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Red Lantern last inspected?
Red Lantern was last inspected on 21 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southend-On-Sea Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Red Lantern?
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 Red Lantern compare to other places in Southend-On-Sea?
70% of the 1,387 rated food businesses in Southend-On-Sea hold the top rating of 5, and Red Lantern is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Southend-On-Sea Council inspects Red Lantern 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 Lantern 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 Lantern is one of 30 rated food businesses in Thorpe Bay. See every hygiene rating in Thorpe Bay →
Southend-On-Sea inspects and rates 1,492 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southend-On-Sea →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southend.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 →