Golden Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Forest of Dean
Golden 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: 27 High Street, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 2SL
How it compares in Forest of Dean
That puts Golden Lion among the 651 places in Forest of Dean holding top marks, 95% 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 | 651 | 95% | ← Golden Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 31 | 5% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 115 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 Golden 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 Golden Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 21 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 February 2026 |
| Curry Leaf Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 28 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2026 |
| Real Deal Retailers - other | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 July 2019 |
| Cinderburys Local Retailers - other | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2022 |
| Fork & Spoon Takeaway/sandwich shop | 86 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| The Jolly Forest Fryer Takeaway/sandwich shop | 95 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2024 |
| Mila Market Retailers - other | 111 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| The Dog House Cinderford Pub/bar/nightclub | 124 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2021 |
Questions about Golden Lion
What is Golden Lion's food hygiene rating?
Golden Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Forest of Dean Council on 1 April 2026.
Is Golden 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 Golden Lion last inspected?
Golden Lion was last inspected on 1 April 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Forest of Dean Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Golden 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 Golden Lion compare to other places in Forest of Dean?
95% of the 687 rated food businesses in Forest of Dean hold the top rating of 5, and Golden Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Forest of Dean Council inspects Golden 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 Golden 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
Golden Lion is one of 82 rated food businesses in Cinderford. See every hygiene rating in Cinderford →
Forest of Dean inspects and rates 802 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Forest of Dean →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.fdean.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 →