The Lions Head and Alt food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
The Lions Head and Alt 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 13 December 2022, more than 3 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: 140 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8AS
How it compares in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
That puts The Lions Head and Alt among the 2,582 places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole holding top marks, 88% 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 | 2,582 | 88% | ← The Lions Head and Alt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 239 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 87 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 18 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 567 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 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 Lions Head and Alt 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 Lions Head and Alt, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 356 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 September 2024 |
| Asda Stores Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 411 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2024 |
| Avalon Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Limited Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2020 |
| Alumni Cafe School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 April 2026 |
| Bambu Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 December 2022 |
| Bethany Church Of England Junior School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 April 2024 |
| Bap Go Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 November 2025 |
Questions about The Lions Head and Alt
What is The Lions Head and Alt's food hygiene rating?
The Lions Head and Alt has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on 13 December 2022.
Is The Lions Head and Alt 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 Lions Head and Alt last inspected?
The Lions Head and Alt was last inspected on 13 December 2022, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lions Head and Alt?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 Lions Head and Alt compare to other places in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
88% of the 2,942 rated food businesses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole hold the top rating of 5, and The Lions Head and Alt is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council inspects The Lions Head and Alt 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 Lions Head and Alt 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
The Lions Head and Alt is one of 1,566 rated food businesses in Bournemouth. See every hygiene rating in Bournemouth →
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole inspects and rates 3,509 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bcpcouncil.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 →