Thistle Express food hygiene rating
Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · Luton
Thistle Express holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the hotel met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 29 May 2025, 13 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: The Strathmore, The Mall, LU1 2TR
How it compares in Luton
That puts Thistle Express among the 846 places in Luton holding top marks, 65% 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 | 846 | 65% | ← Thistle Express | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 231 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 165 | 13% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 16 | 1% | ||
| 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 Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety 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 Thistle Express 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 Thistle Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble CiTea Retailers - other | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Benjamins Cafe Luton LTD Other catering premises | 225 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2025 |
| Best Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 281 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2024 |
| Boots Stores Ltd Retailers - other | 318 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Al-Quds Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 327 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
| Auntie Annes Luton Other catering premises | 339 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| Bron Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 377 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 August 2023 |
| Ali’s Other catering premises | 388 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 November 2024 |
Questions about Thistle Express
What is Thistle Express's food hygiene rating?
Thistle Express has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Luton Council on 29 May 2025.
Is Thistle Express 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 hotel to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Thistle Express last inspected?
Thistle Express was last inspected on 29 May 2025, 13 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 Thistle Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Thistle Express compare to other places in Luton?
65% of the 1,297 rated food businesses in Luton hold the top rating of 5, and Thistle Express is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Luton Council inspects Thistle Express 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 Thistle Express 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Thistle Express is one of 20 rated food businesses in The Mall. See every hygiene rating in The Mall →
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 →