Golden Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Torridge
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 27 August 2025, 10 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: 36 Cross Street, Northam, Bideford, EX39 1BS
How it compares in Torridge
That puts Golden Lion among the 578 places in Torridge holding top marks, 85% 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 | 578 | 85% | ← Golden Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 61 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 95 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshford Organic Foods Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2024 |
| Bideford Blues Kitchen Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2025 |
| Cheverells Residential Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Bidna House Residential Care Home Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| Acorn Manor Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2025 |
| Bluebell House Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2025 |
| Appledore County Primary School And Nursery School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2025 |
| Hocking's Ice Cream Manufacturers/packers | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2025 |
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 Torridge Council on 27 August 2025.
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 27 August 2025, 10 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Torridge Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Golden Lion?
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 Golden Lion compare to other places in Torridge?
85% of the 678 rated food businesses in Torridge hold the top rating of 5, and Golden Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Torridge 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.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Golden Lion is one of 299 rated food businesses in Bideford. See every hygiene rating in Bideford →
Torridge inspects and rates 773 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Torridge →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.torridge.gov.uk/food
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 →