Food Hygiene Ratings in Lambeth

2,606 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.4 out of 5. 60.4% rated "very good".

2,606
Businesses
4.4/5
Average Rating
41
Rated 0 or 1
60.4%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good60.4%1,419
Good23.4%549
Satisfactory11.1%261
Improvement Needed3.4%79
Major Improvement1.7%39
Urgent Improvement0.1%2

Business types

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen74728.7%
Retailers - other43916.8%
Takeaway/sandwich shop41115.8%
Other catering premises39915.3%
Pub/bar/nightclub1706.5%
Caring Premises1375.3%
School/college/university1094.2%
Retailers - supermarkets/hyper823.1%

Food hygiene ratings in Lambeth are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.

Lambeth currently has 2,606 registered food businesses. Of these, 2,349 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs broadly in line with the national average, with 60.4% rated 5 out of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.4 out of 5. There are currently 41 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they require urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.

If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.

Data last updated: March 14, 2026

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
Mesmer CafeSW9 9PY0Feb 06, 2026
Streatham HalwaSW16 6EN0Sep 02, 2025
A.K. ChickenSE27 9AU1Nov 14, 2025
Arituculate CafeSW4 6QA1Dec 13, 2023
Atil NewsSE5 9LB1Aug 08, 2025
Atlantic BreezeSW9 8JW1Oct 06, 2025
Audreys CafeSE24 0JX1Jan 18, 2026
Brixton Best FoodSW9 8PG1Feb 01, 2026
Brixton Grocers / Aziz Cash & CarrySW9 8JY1Oct 06, 2025
Broast Chaser- Mow PizzaSE11 5HY1Dec 22, 2025
Chicken TreatSW2 4UN1Sep 26, 2025
CostcutterSW2 2TJ1Jan 16, 2026
CostcutterSE27 9RB1Feb 02, 2024
Dumplings & BaoSW4 7EE1Jan 24, 2025
Edah ExpressSW9 9BQ1Feb 17, 2024

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Lambeth have a 5 rating?+

There are currently 1,419 food businesses in Lambeth with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 60.4% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.

What does a food hygiene rating of 1 mean in Lambeth?+

A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.

How often are food businesses inspected in Lambeth?+

Inspection frequency in Lambeth depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.

Data from official government food safety agencies