VFD food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Hackney
VFD 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
The rating dates from 23 August 2019, more than 6 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: 66 Stoke Newington Road, Hackney, N16 7XB
How it compares in Hackney
A 2 is rare: only 78 of 2,218 rated places in Hackney score this low, about one in 28. By contrast 66% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,470 | 66% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 422 | 19% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 215 | 10% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 78 | 4% | ← VFD | |
| 1 out of 5 | 28 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 395 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 Improvement necessary
- 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 VFD 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 VFD, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abraco Dalston Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 March 2025 |
| Abla Dalston Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 273 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2024 |
| 91 Bites Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 416 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 October 2025 |
| Adom Trading Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 January 2023 |
| AA Food Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2025 |
| Acqua 7 Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2022 |
| 01Adana Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 October 2025 |
| Abney Public Hall Ltd Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2026 |
Questions about VFD
What is VFD's food hygiene rating?
VFD has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Hackney Council on 23 August 2019.
Is VFD 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 VFD last inspected?
VFD was last inspected on 23 August 2019, more than 6 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Hackney Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at VFD?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does VFD compare to other places in Hackney?
66% of the 2,218 rated food businesses in Hackney hold the top rating of 5, while VFD holds a 2. 78 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Hackney Council inspects VFD 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 VFD 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 Hackney, 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: Hackney
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Hackney inspects and rates 2,613 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Hackney →
The official record is held by the council: https://hackney.gov.uk/environmental-health#food
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 →