The elephant and castle food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Southwark
The elephant and castle 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 25 November 2025, 7 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: Elephant And Castle Public House, 121, Newington Causeway, SE1 6BN
How it compares in Southwark
That puts The elephant and castle among the 2,138 places in Southwark holding top marks, 72% 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 | 2,138 | 72% | ← The elephant and castle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 537 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 226 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 56 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 250 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- 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 The elephant and castle 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 elephant and castle, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| A grocery ltd Retailers - other | 284 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2022 |
| 1st place at the elephant Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
| A & d news Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2021 |
| 13 acre orchard Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| 100% holy cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 November 2024 |
| 1 rebel Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 March 2019 |
Questions about The elephant and castle
What is The elephant and castle's food hygiene rating?
The elephant and castle has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Southwark Council on 25 November 2025.
Is The elephant and castle 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 elephant and castle last inspected?
The elephant and castle was last inspected on 25 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southwark Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The elephant and castle?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The elephant and castle compare to other places in Southwark?
72% of the 2,979 rated food businesses in Southwark hold the top rating of 5, and The elephant and castle is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Southwark Council inspects The elephant and castle 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 elephant and castle 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 elephant and castle is one of 49 rated food businesses in Newington Causeway. See every hygiene rating in Newington Causeway →
Southwark inspects and rates 3,229 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southwark →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southwark.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 →