The Red Lion Hotel food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Luton
The Red Lion Hotel holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
This rating dates from 10 February 2026, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: 2 Castle Street, LU1 3AA
How it compares in Luton
A 2 is rare: only 16 of 1,297 rated places in Luton score this low, about one in 81. By contrast 65% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 846 | 65% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 231 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 165 | 13% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ← The Red Lion Hotel | |
| 1 out of 5 | 33 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 6 | <1% |
A further 403 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 The Red Lion Hotel the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. 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 The Red Lion Hotel, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali’s Other catering premises | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2024 |
| Boots Stores Ltd Retailers - other | 173 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Auntie Annes Luton Other catering premises | 276 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| Black Horse Pub/bar/nightclub | 328 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 September 2021 |
| Bubble CiTea Retailers - other | 339 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Asian Town Cafe Retailers - other | 347 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2024 |
| Benjamins Cafe Luton LTD Other catering premises | 357 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2025 |
| Castle News (Cost Cutter) Retailers - other | 392 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2021 |
Questions about The Red Lion Hotel
What is The Red Lion Hotel's food hygiene rating?
The Red Lion Hotel has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Luton Council on 10 February 2026.
Is The Red Lion Hotel safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub 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 The Red Lion Hotel last inspected?
The Red Lion Hotel was last inspected on 10 February 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Luton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Red Lion Hotel?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Red Lion Hotel compare to other places in Luton?
65% of the 1,297 rated food businesses in Luton hold the top rating of 5, while The Red Lion Hotel holds a 2. 16 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Luton Council inspects The Red Lion Hotel 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 Red Lion Hotel 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 2 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 Luton, 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: Luton
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Luton inspects and rates 1,700 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Luton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.luton.gov.uk/foodscore
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 →