The White Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · East Hertfordshire
The White 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 21 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: 31 High Street, Walkern, Hertfordshire, SG2 7PA
How it compares in East Hertfordshire
That puts The White Lion among the 977 places in East Hertfordshire holding top marks, 84% 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 | 977 | 84% | ← The White Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 146 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 30 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 221 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very 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 White 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 The White Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkes Garage (Walkern) Ltd Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 November 2005 |
| Brewery Tearooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2024 |
| Graveley Cricket Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 September 2016 |
Questions about The White Lion
What is The White Lion's food hygiene rating?
The White Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by East Hertfordshire Council on 21 November 2025.
Is The White 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 The White Lion last inspected?
The White Lion was last inspected on 21 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by East Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The White Lion?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 White Lion compare to other places in East Hertfordshire?
84% of the 1,168 rated food businesses in East Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and The White Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
East Hertfordshire Council inspects The White 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 White Lion and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
East Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,389 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in East Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eastherts.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 →