Whelan's free house food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Southwark
Whelan's free house holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub 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 16 October 2018, more than 7 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 11, Rotherhithe Old Road, SE16 2PP
How it compares in Southwark
In Southwark, 72% of rated places manage a 5, so Whelan's free house sits behind roughly 2,138 nearby businesses. 18% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,138 | 72% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 535 | 18% | ← Whelan's free house | |
| 3 out of 5 | 226 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 56 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 251 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 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 Whelan's free house 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 Whelan's free house, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| African fruit & veg Retailers - other | 38 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 June 2019 |
| 1882 events ltd t/achick n sours Other catering premises | 384 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2025 |
| 5 Steps Community Nursery Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Accent catering ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Admiral Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 July 2025 |
Questions about Whelan's free house
What is Whelan's free house's food hygiene rating?
Whelan's free house has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Southwark Council on 16 October 2018.
Is Whelan's free house 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 pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Whelan's free house last inspected?
Whelan's free house was last inspected on 16 October 2018, more than 7 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southwark Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Whelan's free house?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 Whelan's free house compare to other places in Southwark?
72% of the 2,978 rated food businesses in Southwark hold the top rating of 5, while Whelan's free house holds a 4. 535 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Southwark Council inspects Whelan's free house 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 Whelan's free house and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Southwark inspects and rates 3,229 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southwark →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southwark.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 →