The Chai Station food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Redbridge
The Chai Station holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the takeaway and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 19 May 2025, 13 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: 135 George Lane, E18 1AN
How it compares in Redbridge
A 1 is rare: only 84 of 1,781 rated places in Redbridge score this low, about one in 21. By contrast 66% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,176 | 66% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 269 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 209 | 12% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 38 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 84 | 5% | ← The Chai Station | |
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 371 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 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 Chai Station the inspector recorded concerns over 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 Chai Station, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argos Limited Retailers - other | 177 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 September 2025 |
| Ana's cakes and coffee Other catering premises | 324 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2026 |
| Achieve together Caring Premises | 384 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2025 |
| Achieve together Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2025 |
| Ark Fish Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Bare Brew Ltd Retailers - other | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| 1st Stepping Stones Nursery at Peterhouse Caring Premises | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2025 |
Questions about The Chai Station
What is The Chai Station's food hygiene rating?
The Chai Station has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Redbridge Council on 19 May 2025.
Is The Chai Station safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway 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 Chai Station last inspected?
The Chai Station was last inspected on 19 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Redbridge Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Chai Station?
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 "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Chai Station compare to other places in Redbridge?
66% of the 1,781 rated food businesses in Redbridge hold the top rating of 5, while The Chai Station holds a 1. 84 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Redbridge Council inspects The Chai Station 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 Chai Station 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 Redbridge, 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: Redbridge
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Chai Station is one of 122 rated food businesses in South Woodford. See every hygiene rating in South Woodford →
Redbridge inspects and rates 2,152 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Redbridge →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.redbridge.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 →