The Kitchens food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Tower Hamlets
The Kitchens holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the business and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 16 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: Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, London, E1 6EW
How it compares in Tower Hamlets
A 1 is rare: only 62 of 2,850 rated places in Tower Hamlets score this low, about one in 46. By contrast 73% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,067 | 73% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 459 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 172 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 86 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 62 | 2% | ← The Kitchens | |
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 312 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Kitchens the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. 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 Kitchens, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nigerianboys Mobile caterer | 43 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2025 |
| A&O Shearman LLP Other catering premises | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| 68 & Shanghai Pub/bar/nightclub | 201 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2026 |
| 24 Karak Takeaway/sandwich shop | 283 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 December 2025 |
| Aba Rai Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 306 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
| 93 Feet East Pub/bar/nightclub | 369 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 May 2026 |
| Acai Berry Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 January 2025 |
| 3 Leaf Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2026 |
Questions about The Kitchens
What is The Kitchens's food hygiene rating?
The Kitchens has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Tower Hamlets Council on 16 January 2025.
Is The Kitchens safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The business 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 Kitchens last inspected?
The Kitchens was last inspected on 16 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Tower Hamlets Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Kitchens?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Kitchens compare to other places in Tower Hamlets?
73% of the 2,850 rated food businesses in Tower Hamlets hold the top rating of 5, while The Kitchens holds a 1. 62 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Tower Hamlets Council inspects The Kitchens 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 Kitchens 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 1 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 Tower Hamlets, 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: Tower Hamlets
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Tower Hamlets inspects and rates 3,162 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Tower Hamlets →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.towerhamlets.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 →