Red Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · York
Red Lion holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 23 January 2026, 5 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: 2 Merchantgate, York, YO1 9TU
How it compares in York
In York, 74% of rated places manage a 5, so Red Lion sits behind roughly 1,692 nearby businesses. 6% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,378 | 74% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 314 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 106 | 6% | ← Red Lion | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Red 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 Red Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boy's Burgers Takeaway/sandwich shop | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Ambiente Tapas Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 118 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2026 |
| Batch'd Retailers - other | 150 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2025 |
| Black Wheat Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 164 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2025 |
| Blue Boar Pub/bar/nightclub | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2024 |
| Alma Cafe and Gifts Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Ate O'Clock Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 252 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2025 |
| Amorino Retailers - other | 268 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 July 2024 |
Questions about Red Lion
What is Red Lion's food hygiene rating?
Red Lion has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by York Council on 23 January 2026.
Is Red Lion safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Red Lion last inspected?
Red Lion was last inspected on 23 January 2026, 5 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 Red Lion?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Red Lion compare to other places in York?
74% of the 1,854 rated food businesses in York hold the top rating of 5, while Red Lion holds a 3. 106 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
York Council inspects Red 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 Red 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 →