The Whitecross Tap food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Islington
The Whitecross Tap 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 30 April 2026, 2 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 Whitecross Tap, 142-146 Whitecross Street, London, EC1Y 8QJ
How it compares in Islington
That puts The Whitecross Tap among the 1,536 places in Islington holding top marks, 64% 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 | 1,536 | 64% | ← The Whitecross Tap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 470 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 265 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 48 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 179 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 Whitecross Tap 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 Whitecross Tap, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| A J News Retailers - other | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2018 |
| A Pinch of Salt Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2026 |
| 1930 Coffee Company Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2026 |
| 23 Paul Street Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2024 |
| 87 Barts Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| 88 Beans Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 April 2025 |
| 3rd Generation Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2022 |
| 56 WS Wine Bar & Shop Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2022 |
Questions about The Whitecross Tap
What is The Whitecross Tap's food hygiene rating?
The Whitecross Tap has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Islington Council on 30 April 2026.
Is The Whitecross Tap 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 Whitecross Tap last inspected?
The Whitecross Tap was last inspected on 30 April 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Islington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Whitecross Tap?
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 Whitecross Tap compare to other places in Islington?
64% of the 2,408 rated food businesses in Islington hold the top rating of 5, and The Whitecross Tap is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Islington Council inspects The Whitecross Tap 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 Whitecross Tap 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
Islington inspects and rates 2,587 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Islington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.islington.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 →