The British Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Folkestone and Hythe
The British 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 21 October 2024, 20 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: The British Lion 8-10 the Bayle, Folkestone, CT20 1SQ
How it compares in Folkestone and Hythe
That puts The British Lion among the 958 places in Folkestone and Hythe holding top marks, 84% 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 | 958 | 84% | ← The British Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 111 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 62 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 5 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 144 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 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 The British 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 British Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Fayre Retailers - other | 170 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| East Kent Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 182 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2024 |
| Django's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 182 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
| El Cortador Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
| Euro Market Retailers - other | 229 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 March 2020 |
| Bella Vita Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 231 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2023 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2023 |
| Burrito Buoy Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 256 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 February 2024 |
Questions about The British Lion
What is The British Lion's food hygiene rating?
The British Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Folkestone and Hythe Council on 21 October 2024.
Is The British 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 British Lion last inspected?
The British Lion was last inspected on 21 October 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Folkestone and Hythe Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The British Lion?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The British Lion compare to other places in Folkestone and Hythe?
84% of the 1,140 rated food businesses in Folkestone and Hythe hold the top rating of 5, and The British Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Folkestone and Hythe Council inspects The British 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 British 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 British Lion is one of 519 rated food businesses in Folkestone. See every hygiene rating in Folkestone →
Folkestone and Hythe inspects and rates 1,284 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Folkestone and Hythe →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.folkestone-hythe.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 →