China Express food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Lewisham
China Express holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 24 April 2025, 14 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: 269 Brownhill Road, London, SE6 1AE
How it compares in Lewisham
A 2 is rare: only 35 of 2,009 rated places in Lewisham score this low, about one in 57. By contrast 62% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,249 | 62% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 457 | 23% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 236 | 12% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 35 | 2% | ← China Express | |
| 1 out of 5 | 28 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 4 | <1% |
A further 449 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 China Express 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 China Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ani's Local Ltd Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2025 |
| Arlo & Moe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2024 |
| Air Thrill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 September 2025 |
| Ashleigh Health Care Ltd Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2024 |
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2025 |
| Atalian Servest Food Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2023 |
Questions about China Express
What is China Express's food hygiene rating?
China Express has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Lewisham Council on 24 April 2025.
Is China Express safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway 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 China Express last inspected?
China Express was last inspected on 24 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lewisham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at China Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 China Express compare to other places in Lewisham?
62% of the 2,009 rated food businesses in Lewisham hold the top rating of 5, while China Express holds a 2. 35 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Lewisham Council inspects China Express 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 China Express 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 Lewisham, 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: Lewisham
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Lewisham inspects and rates 2,458 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lewisham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/business/food-safety/Pages/default.aspx
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 →