Richmond upon Thames has been named one of the cleanest boroughs in the capital when it comes to food hygiene, according to a new report marking 15 years of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

The borough ranked joint eighth out of 25 London local authorities, with an average score of 4.51 across 750 food premises.

Richmond shares the eighth spot with Haringey, just behind Tower Hamlets, which placed seventh with an average of 4.52.

Neighbouring borough Sutton ranked ninth, while Kingston came in tenth with a score of 4.38.

The figures come from a study by online training provider High Speed Training, which analysed Food Standards Agency (FSA) data from over 36,000 food businesses across London.

The report shows Richmond outperformed much of the capital, while London as a whole ranked bottom nationally, despite a slight improvement in its regional average score from 4.36 in 2024 to 4.38 in 2025.

Across the capital:

• 83.1% of all food businesses scored a 4 or 5
• 22.1% of takeaways and sandwich shops scored 3 or below
• 149 premises were given a zero rating
• 774 businesses received a one

Kensington and Chelsea took the top spot with a rating of 4.79, while Waltham Forest finished last with 3.89.

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Richmond borough has an average food hygiene rating score of 4.51 (credit: High Speed Training).

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, introduced in 2010, helps the public make informed choices about where to eat and buy food. Ratings are based on food handling, premises cleanliness, and food safety practices.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, food businesses must display their rating, but in England it remains voluntary.

Paul Turner, Environmental Health Officer at North Yorkshire Council, praised the scheme's impact on standards but called for reform: "A national standard means greater consistency for businesses and provides the public with easy access to this vital information.

"We'd welcome a legal requirement for displaying ratings in England and clearer integration of hygiene scores into food delivery apps."

Dr Richard Anderson of High Speed Training added: "Food hygiene ratings are a direct reflection of how safely an establishment operates.

"For customers, checking a restaurant's rating is key. For businesses, a high score can be a real asset."

To view the full report and see how Richmond compares with other boroughs, visit High Speed Training's website.

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