The White Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bassetlaw
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 2 March 2026, 4 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: White Lion, 35 West Street, Retford, DN22 6ES
How it compares in Bassetlaw
That puts The White Lion among the 978 places in Bassetlaw holding top marks, 98% 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 | 978 | 98% | ← The White Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 85 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Stores Plc Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 March 2026 |
| Deli and Dine Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 121 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2026 |
| Deli and Dine Out Other catering premises | 121 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2026 |
| Good Health Boutique Retailers - other | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Edi'z Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2025 |
| Cooplands Retailers - other | 147 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| Grove Street Methodist Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 158 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2026 |
| B & M Stores Retailers - other | 164 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
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 Bassetlaw Council on 2 March 2026.
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 2 March 2026, 4 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bassetlaw 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 "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 Bassetlaw?
98% of the 1,002 rated food businesses in Bassetlaw hold the top rating of 5, and The White Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bassetlaw 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
The White Lion is one of 223 rated food businesses in Retford. See every hygiene rating in Retford →
Bassetlaw inspects and rates 1,087 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bassetlaw →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bassetlaw.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 →