Red Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Isle of Wight
Red Lion 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 18 September 2025, 9 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: Red Lion Inn, Church Place, Freshwater, PO40 9BP
How it compares in Isle of Wight
That puts Red Lion among the 1,042 places in Isle of Wight holding top marks, 70% 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 | 1,042 | 70% | ← Red Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 261 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 139 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 30 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 208 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 Red Lion 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 Red Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco Stores Limited Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 May 2025 |
| Honnor & Jeffery Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 16 January 2025 |
| Little Stars Preschool School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| The Bikery Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 October 2025 |
| Mrs Middlebrow's Bookshop Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 1 November 2025 |
| Jaffran Indian Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 4 - Good | 22 February 2025 |
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | Exempt | |
| Allsorts Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2025 |
Questions about Red Lion
What is Red Lion's food hygiene rating?
Red Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Isle of Wight Council on 18 September 2025.
Is Red Lion 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 Red Lion last inspected?
Red Lion was last inspected on 18 September 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Isle of Wight Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Red Lion?
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 Red Lion compare to other places in Isle of Wight?
70% of the 1,479 rated food businesses in Isle of Wight hold the top rating of 5, and Red Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Isle of Wight Council inspects Red Lion 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 Red Lion 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
Red Lion is one of 50 rated food businesses in Freshwater. See every hygiene rating in Freshwater →
Isle of Wight inspects and rates 1,687 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Isle of Wight →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.iow.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/community-protection-services/
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 →