The Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Mid Suffolk
The 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 1 April 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: The Red Lion, 8 High Street, Debenham, IP14 6QJ
How it compares in Mid Suffolk
That puts The Lion among the 623 places in Mid Suffolk holding top marks, 86% 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 | 623 | 86% | ← The Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 66 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 26 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 123 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 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 Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deben Coffee House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 39 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2019 |
| Brufords Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2024 |
| W A Ward Greengrocers Retailers - other | 81 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2021 |
| East of England Co-operative Society Retailers - other | 82 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2026 |
| Debenham Fish & Chips Shop Villetek Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 152 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 June 2024 |
| Websters The Newsagent Retailers - other | 194 yards away | 4 - Good | 23 July 2011 |
| Debenham Roundabout Pre-School School/college/university | 209 yards away | 4 - Good | 26 September 2025 |
| Sir Robert Hitchams Primary School School/college/university | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
Questions about The Lion
What is The Lion's food hygiene rating?
The Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid Suffolk Council on 1 April 2026.
Is The 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 Lion last inspected?
The Lion was last inspected on 1 April 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid Suffolk Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lion?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Lion compare to other places in Mid Suffolk?
86% of the 728 rated food businesses in Mid Suffolk hold the top rating of 5, and The Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid Suffolk Council inspects The 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 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 Lion is one of 244 rated food businesses in Stowmarket. See every hygiene rating in Stowmarket →
Mid Suffolk inspects and rates 851 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid Suffolk →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midsuffolk.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 →