Golden Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · York
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 20 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: 9 Church Street, York, YO1 8BG
How it compares in York
That puts Golden Lion among the 1,378 places in York holding top marks, 74% 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 | 1,378 | 74% | ← Golden Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 314 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 106 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 38 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 297 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 Very 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 Degrees Coffee Shop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 November 2025 |
| Bird & Blend Retailers - other | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2026 |
| Ambrosia Greek Street Food Mobile caterer | 99 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
| Bar Hashery Takeaway/sandwich shop | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2025 |
| Amorino Retailers - other | 148 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 July 2024 |
| Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2025 |
| Black Wheat Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 234 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| Blue Heaven Lounge Grill House & Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2023 |
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 York Council on 20 November 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 20 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by York Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Golden 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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Golden Lion compare to other places in York?
74% of the 1,854 rated food businesses in York hold the top rating of 5, and Golden Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
York 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.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
York inspects and rates 2,151 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in York →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.york.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 →