The Lion and Unicorn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Camden
The Lion and Unicorn holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 2 August 2024, 23 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 42-44 Gaisford Street, NW5 2ED
How it compares in Camden
In Camden, 59% of rated places manage a 5, so The Lion and Unicorn sits behind roughly 1,993 nearby businesses. 19% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,993 | 59% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 654 | 19% | ← The Lion and Unicorn | |
| 3 out of 5 | 457 | 14% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 127 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 90 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 52 | 2% |
A further 924 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 The Lion and Unicorn 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 Lion and Unicorn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Tavern Pub/bar/nightclub | 305 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
| 3 Locks Brewery Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 April 2023 |
| Aces and Eights Saloon Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 February 2023 |
| 103 Parkway Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2024 |
| 130 Primrose Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 June 2026 |
Questions about The Lion and Unicorn
What is The Lion and Unicorn's food hygiene rating?
The Lion and Unicorn has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Camden Council on 2 August 2024.
Is The Lion and Unicorn safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Lion and Unicorn last inspected?
The Lion and Unicorn was last inspected on 2 August 2024, 23 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Camden Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Lion and Unicorn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 The Lion and Unicorn compare to other places in Camden?
59% of the 3,373 rated food businesses in Camden hold the top rating of 5, while The Lion and Unicorn holds a 4. 654 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Camden Council inspects The Lion and Unicorn 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 Lion and Unicorn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Camden inspects and rates 4,297 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Camden →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.camden.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 →