Lil's on the Waterfront food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · York
Lil's on the Waterfront holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the restaurant are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 11 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: 5 Kings Staith, York, YO1 9SN
How it compares in York
In York, 74% of rated places manage a 5, so Lil's on the Waterfront sits behind roughly 1,378 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,378 | 74% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 314 | 17% | ← Lil's on the Waterfront | |
| 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 Very good
- 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 Lil's on the Waterfront 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 Lil's on the Waterfront, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 138 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Blue Boar Pub/bar/nightclub | 159 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2024 |
| Alma Cafe and Gifts Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Ate O'Clock Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 185 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2025 |
| 29 States Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 211 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2024 |
| Batch'd Retailers - other | 213 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2025 |
| Blue Heaven Lounge Grill House & Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 262 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2023 |
| Amorino Retailers - other | 291 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 July 2024 |
Questions about Lil's on the Waterfront
What is Lil's on the Waterfront's food hygiene rating?
Lil's on the Waterfront has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by York Council on 11 December 2025.
Is Lil's on the Waterfront safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Lil's on the Waterfront last inspected?
Lil's on the Waterfront was last inspected on 11 December 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 Lil's on the Waterfront?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Lil's on the Waterfront compare to other places in York?
74% of the 1,854 rated food businesses in York hold the top rating of 5, while Lil's on the Waterfront holds a 4. 314 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
York Council inspects Lil's on the Waterfront 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 Lil's on the Waterfront 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 →