VSL Coffee food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Islington
VSL Coffee holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The restaurant met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 12 February 2026, 5 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: VSL Coffee, Ground Floor, 394 York Way, N7 9LW
How it compares in Islington
In Islington, 64% of rated places manage a 5, so VSL Coffee sits behind roughly 2,006 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,536 | 64% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 470 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 265 | 11% | ← VSL Coffee | |
| 2 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 48 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 179 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 VSL Coffee 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 VSL Coffee, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Tavern Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| Aces and Eights Saloon Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 February 2023 |
| 320 Cale Off Licence & Post Office Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2017 |
| 3 Locks Brewery Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 April 2023 |
Questions about VSL Coffee
What is VSL Coffee's food hygiene rating?
VSL Coffee has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Islington Council on 12 February 2026.
Is VSL Coffee safe to eat at?
A 3 means the restaurant met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was VSL Coffee last inspected?
VSL Coffee was last inspected on 12 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Islington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at VSL Coffee?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does VSL Coffee compare to other places in Islington?
64% of the 2,408 rated food businesses in Islington hold the top rating of 5, while VSL Coffee holds a 3. 265 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Islington Council inspects VSL Coffee 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 VSL Coffee and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
VSL Coffee is one of 264 rated food businesses in Ground Floor. See every hygiene rating in Ground Floor →
Islington inspects and rates 2,587 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Islington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.islington.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 →