The White Lion food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Swale
The White 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 19 November 2025, 7 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 Street, Selling, Faversham, ME13 9RQ
How it compares in Swale
That puts The White Lion among the 989 places in Swale holding top marks, 83% 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 | 989 | 83% | ← The White Lion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 134 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 40 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 The White 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 The White Lion, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast/After School/Forest Clubs Selling CofE Primary Sch School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| FHNANourish Contract Catering At Selling Primary School School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| Gaskains Ltd Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2014 |
| ME13 Market Garden Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2024 |
| Rose And Crown Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
| The Sondes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
Questions about The White Lion
What is The White Lion's food hygiene rating?
The White Lion has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Swale Council on 19 November 2025.
Is The White 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 The White Lion last inspected?
The White Lion was last inspected on 19 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Swale Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The White 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 The White Lion compare to other places in Swale?
83% of the 1,186 rated food businesses in Swale hold the top rating of 5, and The White Lion is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Swale Council inspects The White 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 The White Lion and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The White Lion is one of 155 rated food businesses in Faversham. See every hygiene rating in Faversham →
Swale inspects and rates 1,226 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Swale →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.swale.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 →