Al's cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Southwark
Al's cafe holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 13 November 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 128, Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TX
How it compares in Southwark
That puts Al's cafe 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% | ← Al's cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 535 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 226 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 56 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 251 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 Al's cafe 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 Al's cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey local Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2021 |
| 24 express Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2026 |
| 13 acre orchard Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| A & d news Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2021 |
| A & A Best Food Other catering premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2025 |
| 14 Stories Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2026 |
| A grocery ltd Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2022 |
| 10th Floor Coffee Bar - CFC Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
Questions about Al's cafe
What is Al's cafe's food hygiene rating?
Al's cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Southwark Council on 13 November 2024.
Is Al's cafe 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Al's cafe last inspected?
Al's cafe was last inspected on 13 November 2024, 19 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 Al's cafe?
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 Al's cafe compare to other places in Southwark?
72% of the 2,978 rated food businesses in Southwark hold the top rating of 5, and Al's cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Southwark Council inspects Al's cafe 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 Al's cafe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →