Lincoln’s food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Eastbourne
Lincoln’s holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the restaurant and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Lincoln’s was inspected on 6 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 1% of rated food businesses in Eastbourne score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Eastbourne ratings →
Address: 1 Mark Lane, Eastbourne, BN21 4RJ
How this rating has changed
Lincoln’s was re-inspected on 6 August 2026 and held its rating of 1.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 6 August 2026 | AwaitingInspection 1 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Eastbourne
A 1 is rare: only 14 of 939 rated places in Eastbourne score this low, about one in 67. By contrast 85% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 797 | 85% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 105 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ← Lincoln’s | |
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 90 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 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 Lincoln’s 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 Lincoln’s, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bourne Out Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 21 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Buffet Time and Taro Fresh Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 56 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
| 7G Plus Eastbourne Retailers - other | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2026 |
| Admiral Casino Other catering premises | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2025 |
| Bella's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2024 |
| Amore caffe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 178 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 July 2025 |
| BBB Four / Your Wellness Ltd Pub/bar/nightclub | 204 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| Burger King Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 227 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2024 |
Questions about Lincoln’s
What is Lincoln’s's food hygiene rating?
Lincoln’s has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Eastbourne Council on 6 August 2026.
Is Lincoln’s safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The restaurant 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 Lincoln’s last inspected?
Lincoln’s was last inspected on 6 August 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Eastbourne Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Lincoln’s?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", 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 Lincoln’s compare to other places in Eastbourne?
85% of the 939 rated food businesses in Eastbourne hold the top rating of 5, while Lincoln’s holds a 1. 14 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Eastbourne Council inspects Lincoln’s 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 Lincoln’s 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 Eastbourne, 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: Eastbourne
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Eastbourne inspects and rates 1,029 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Eastbourne →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.lewes-eastbourne.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 →