The Red Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Stratford-on-Avon
The Red Lion holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the pub and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: The Red Lion was inspected on 8 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Red Lion Inn, Front Street, Ilmington, CV36 4LX
How this rating has changed
The Red Lion has gone backwards: it held a 2 before its inspection on 8 June 2026, and now holds a 1. A rating of 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 8 June 2026 | 2 1 | Worse |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Stratford-on-Avon
A 1 is rare: only 5 of 1,252 rated places in Stratford-on-Avon score this low, about one in 250. By contrast 86% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,074 | 86% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 121 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ← The Red Lion | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 111 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Red Lion the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled, the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Red Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Howard Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 113 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 November 2025 |
| Ilmington C Of E Primary School School/college/university | 391 yards away | 4 - Good | 20 May 2026 |
| Ilmington Community Cafe Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
Questions about The Red Lion
What is The Red Lion's food hygiene rating?
The Red Lion has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Stratford-on-Avon Council on 8 June 2026.
Is The Red Lion safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Red Lion last inspected?
The Red Lion was last inspected on 8 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stratford-on-Avon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Red Lion?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Red Lion compare to other places in Stratford-on-Avon?
86% of the 1,252 rated food businesses in Stratford-on-Avon hold the top rating of 5, while The Red Lion holds a 1. 5 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Stratford-on-Avon Council inspects The Red 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 Red Lion and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Stratford-on-Avon, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Stratford-on-Avon
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Red Lion is one of 66 rated food businesses in Shipston-on-Stour. See every hygiene rating in Shipston-on-Stour →
Stratford-on-Avon inspects and rates 1,363 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stratford-on-Avon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stratford.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 →