Black Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Swale
Black 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 5 December 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: The Street, Lynsted, Kent, ME9 0RJ
How it compares in Swale
That puts Black Lion among the 989 places in Swale holding top marks, 83% 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 | 989 | 83% | ← Black Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 134 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 40 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 Very 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 Black 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 Black Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nourish Contract Catering At Lynsted CP School School/college/university | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 November 2025 |
| G.I. Jane Bootcamp Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2025 |
| Only Foods And Sauces Teynham Mobile caterer | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| JD Catering Other catering premises | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 April 2025 |
| Jo-Eleanors Bread And Butter Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 June 2025 |
| Londis Retailers - other | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 July 2023 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2024 |
| Crispins Fish Bar Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.1 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
Questions about Black Lion
What is Black Lion's food hygiene rating?
Black Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Swale Council on 5 December 2025.
Is Black 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 Black Lion last inspected?
Black Lion was last inspected on 5 December 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swale Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Black Lion?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Black Lion compare to other places in Swale?
83% of the 1,186 rated food businesses in Swale hold the top rating of 5, and Black Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Swale Council inspects Black 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 Black 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
Swale inspects and rates 1,226 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swale →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.swale.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 →